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coy - 6 dictionary results

coy

[koi] 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 *quētus, for L quiētus quiet


coyish, adjective
coy⋅ish⋅ness, noun
coyly, adverb
coyness, noun


2. retiring, diffident, bashful, demure.
coy   (koi)   
adj.   coy·er, coy·est
  1. Tending to avoid people and social situations; reserved.
  2. Affectedly and usually flirtatiously shy or modest. See Synonyms at shy1.
  3. 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 kweiə- in Indo-European roots.]
coy'ly adv., coy'ness n.

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.

Coy

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

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

A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets. --Bp. Rainbow.

2. To caress with the hand; to stroke.

Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy. --Shak.

Coy

Coy\, v. i. 1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obs.]

Thus to coy it, With one who knows you too! --Rowe.

2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.]

If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. --Shak.
Language Translation for : coy
Spanish: tímido, reservado, evasivo,
German: schüchtern,
Japanese: はにかんだ

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.
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