Coy - Definitions from Dictionary.com

13 results for: Coy

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

coy

Audio Help [koi] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, verb

–adjective

1.	artfully or affectedly shy or reserved; slyly hesitant; coquettish.

2.	shy; modest.

3.	showing reluctance, esp. when insincere or affected, to reveal one's plans or opinions, make a commitment, or take a stand: The mayor was coy about his future political aspirations.

4.	Archaic. disdainful; aloof.

5.	Obsolete. quiet; reserved.

–verb (used without object)

6.	Archaic. to act in a coy manner.

–verb (used with object) Obsolete.

7.	to quiet; soothe.

8.	to pat; caress.

[Origin: 1300–50; ME < AF coi, quoy calm, OF quei < VL *quétus, for L quiétus quiet

]

—Related forms

coyish, adjective

coy·ish·ness, noun

coyly, adverb

coyness, noun

—Synonyms 2. retiring, diffident, bashful, demure.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Coy

To learn more about Coy visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

coy Audio Help (koi) Pronunciation Key
adj. coy·er, coy·est

Tending to avoid people and social situations; reserved.
Affectedly and usually flirtatiously shy or modest. See Synonyms at shy¹.
Annoyingly unwilling to make a commitment.

[Middle English, from Old French quei, coi, quiet, still, from Vulgar Latin *quētus, from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere, to rest; see k^weiə- in Indo-European roots.]

coy'ly adv., coy'ness n.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
coy

c.1330, from O.Fr. coi, earlier quei "quiet, still," ult. from L. quietus "resting, at rest" (see quiet). Meaning "shy" emerged 14c. Meaning "unwilling to commit" is 1961.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

coy
adjective
1.	affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
2.	showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement; "a politician coy about his intentions"
3.	modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures; "like a wild young colt, very inquisitive but very coy and not to be easily cajoled"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
coy [koi] adjective

(pretending to be) shy
Example: She gave her brother's friend a coy smile.

Arabic:	خَجول
Chinese (Simplified):	怕羞的，腼腆的
Chinese (Traditional):	怕羞的，靦腆的
Czech:	stydlivý, upejpavý
Danish:	koket
Dutch:	bedeesd
Estonian:	uje
Finnish:	häveliäs
French:	qui fait l'effarouché, *-ée
German:	schüchtern
Greek:	ντροπαλός
Hungarian:	szemérmes
Icelandic:	sem er ekki jafn feiminn og hann lætur
Indonesian:	malu-malu
Italian:	timido

Japanese:	はにかんだ
Korean:	수줍어하는, 수줍은 체하는
Latvian:	kautrīgs; bikls
Lithuanian:	apsimestinai drovus, kuklus
Norwegian:	kokett, (påtatt) blyg
Polish:	nieśmiały
Portuguese (Brazil):	tímido
Portuguese (Portugal):	tímido
Romanian:	sfios
Russian:	застенчивый
Slovak:	hanblivý
Slovenian:	sramežljiv
Spanish:	tímido, reservado, evasivo
Swedish:	blyg, tillgjord, skälmsk
Turkish:	utangaç

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Coy, AL Zip code(s): 36435

Coy, AR (town, FIPS 15790) Location: 34.54179 N, 91.86960 W
Population (1990): 142 (64 housing units)
Area: 1.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Mc Coy, CO Zip code(s): 80463

Mc Coy, TX Zip code(s): 78053

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Coy

Ac*coy"\ ([a^]k*koi"), v. t. [OF. acoyer; ac-, for L. ad. See Coy.]

1. To render quiet; to soothe. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

2. To subdue; to tame; to daunt. [Obs.]

Then is your careless courage accoyed. --Spenser.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Coy

Coy\ (koi), a. [OE. coi quiet, still, OF. coi, coit, fr.L. quietus quiet, p. p. of quiescere to rest, quie rest; prob. akin to E. while. See While, and cf. Quiet, Quit, Quite.]

1. Quiet; still. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry.

Coy, and difficult to win. --Cowper.

Coy and furtive graces. --W. Irving.

Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed, Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest. --Goldsmith.

3. Soft; gentle; hesitating.

Enforced hate, Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee. --Shak.

Syn: Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Coy

Coy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid); p. pr. & vb. n. Coying.]

1. To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obs.]