adjective, -er, -est, verb | 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. |
| 6. | Archaic. to act in a coy manner. |
| 7. | to quiet; soothe. |
| 8. | to pat; caress. |
coy (koi) adj. coy·er, coy·est
[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. |