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adjective
a compar. of shy1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
shy
1
[shahy] adjective, shy·er or shi·er, shy·est or shi·est, verb, shied, shy·ing, noun, plural shies. adjective
1.
bashful; retiring.
2.
easily frightened away; timid.
3.
suspicious; distrustful: I am a bit shy of that sort of person.
4.
reluctant; wary.
5.
EXPANDdeficient: shy of funds.
verb (used without object)
9.
(especially of a horse) to start back or aside, as in fear.
10.
to draw back; recoil.
noun
Idiom11.
a sudden start aside, as in fear.
12.
fight shy of, to keep away from; avoid: She fought shy of making the final decision.
Origin:
before 1000; late Middle English schey (adj.), early Middle English scheowe, Old English scēoh; cognate with Middle High German schiech; akin to Dutch schuw, German scheu; compare eschew
before 1000; late Middle English schey (adj.), early Middle English scheowe, Old English scēoh; cognate with Middle High German schiech; akin to Dutch schuw, German scheu; compare eschew
Related forms
shy·er, noun
shy·ly, adverb
shy·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. Shy, bashful, diffident imply a manner that shows discomfort or lack of confidence in association with others. Shy implies a constitutional shrinking from contact or close association with others, together with a wish to escape notice: shy and retiring. Bashful suggests timidity about meeting others, and trepidation and awkward behavior when brought into prominence or notice: a bashful child. Diffident emphasizes self-distrust, fear of censure, failure, etc., and a hesitant, tentative manner as a consequence: a diffident approach to a touchy subject. 4. heedful, cautious, chary. 10. shrink.
1. Shy, bashful, diffident imply a manner that shows discomfort or lack of confidence in association with others. Shy implies a constitutional shrinking from contact or close association with others, together with a wish to escape notice: shy and retiring. Bashful suggests timidity about meeting others, and trepidation and awkward behavior when brought into prominence or notice: a bashful child. Diffident emphasizes self-distrust, fear of censure, failure, etc., and a hesitant, tentative manner as a consequence: a diffident approach to a touchy subject. 4. heedful, cautious, chary. 10. shrink.
Antonyms
1. forward. 2. trusting. 4. careless. 10. advance.
1. forward. 2. trusting. 4. careless. 10. advance.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To shier
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
shy
"to throw with a jerk or toss," 1787, colloquial, of unknown origin and uncertain connection to shy (adj.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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