self-assurance self-assurance /ˌsɛlf əˈʃʊrəns/

noun

1. Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities  ( self-assurance , sureness , authority , assurance , confidence , self-confidence )
   freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
    His assurance in his superiority did not make him popular
   his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular
    After that failure he lost his confidence
   after that failure he lost his confidence
    She spoke with authority
   she spoke with authority
   
   

 historian historian /hɪˈstɔriːən/

noun

1. () (history) a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it  ( historiographer , historian )
   (history) a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it
     The historian meticulously researched and documented the events of the past.
   The historian meticulously researched and documented the events of the past.
   
   

 naif naif /naɪˈiːf/

adjective

1. Marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience  ( naif , naïf , naive )
   marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience
    A teenager's naive ignorance of life
   a teenager's naive ignorance of life
    The naive assumption that things can only get better
   the naive assumption that things can only get better
    This naive simple creature with wide friendly eyes so eager to believe appearances
   this naive simple creature with wide friendly eyes so eager to believe appearances
   

noun

1. A naive or inexperienced person  ( naif , naïf )
   a naive or inexperienced person
    Despite being in the bustling city, the naif from the small village looked at everything with wonder.
   Despite being in the bustling city, the naif from the small village looked at everything with wonder.
   
   

 desert desert /dɪˈzɝːt/

noun

1. () Arid land with little or no vegetation  ( desert )
   arid land with little or no vegetation
    The hot sun beat down on us as we hiked through the desert
   The hot sun beat down on us as we hiked through the desert
   
   
2. (usually plural) a person's deservingness of or entitlement to reward or punishment  ( desert )
   (usually plural) a person's deservingness of or entitlement to reward or punishment
   

verb

1. () Leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch  ( desolate , abandon , forsake , desert )
   leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
    The mother deserted her children
   The mother deserted her children
   
2. () Desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army  ( defect , desert )
   desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army
    If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot
   If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot
   
3. Leave behind  ( desert )
   leave behind
    The students deserted the campus after the end of exam period
   the students deserted the campus after the end of exam period