coy´ness

coy´ness
coy «koy», adjective, verb.
–adj.
1. shy or modest; bashful.
2. acting more shy than one really is; coquettishly reserved: »

I am not trying to hide anything…and I'm certainly not being coy (Newsweek).

–v.t.
1. to render quiet; calm; appease.
2. to stroke or touch soothingly; pat; caress.
–v.i.
Archaic.
1. to act or behave coyly; affect shyness or reserve.
2. to be slow or reluctant; make difficulty.
[< Old French coi, earlier quei < Vulgar Latin quētus, for Latin quiētus at rest. See etym. of doublets quiet1 (Cf.quiet) and quit, adjective. (Cf.quit)]
coy´ly, a.
coy´ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • coy — coy·dog; coy·ly; coy·ness; coy·nye; coy·pu; mc·coy; to·bac·coy; coy; coy·ote; de·coy; coy·pou; …   English syllables

  • coy´ly — coy «koy», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. shy or modest; bashful. 2. acting more shy than one really is; coquettishly reserved: »I am not trying to hide anything…and I m certainly not being coy (Newsweek). –v.t. 1. to render quiet; calm; …   Useful english dictionary

  • coy — [[t]kɔɪ[/t]] adj. coy•er, coy•est 1) artfully or affectedly shy or reserved; coquettish 2) shy; modest 3) reluctant to reveal one s plans, make a commitment, or take a stand 4) Obs. quiet; reserved • Etymology: 1300–50; ME < AF coi, quoy calm …   From formal English to slang

  • qui´et|ness — qui|et1 «KWY uht», adjective, verb, adverb. –adj. 1. making no sound; with little or no noise; silent; hushed: »quiet footsteps, a quiet street. The holy time is quiet as a nun Breathless with adoration (Wordsworth). 2. moving very little; still; …   Useful english dictionary

  • bash´ful|ness — bash|ful «BASH fuhl», adjective. 1. uneasy in the presence of strangers; easily embarrassed; shy: »The little girl was too bashful to greet us. SYNONYM(S): timid, coy, diffident. See syn. under shy. (Cf. ↑shy) 2. of or like that of a bashful… …   Useful english dictionary

  • de|mure´ness — de|mure «dih MYUR», adjective, mur|er, mur|est. 1. seeming more modest and proper than one really is; coy: »the demure smile of a flirt. SYNONYM(S): prim. See syn. under modest. (Cf. ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • skit´tish|ness — skit|tish «SKIHT ihsh», adjective. 1. apt to start, jump, or run; easily frightened: »a skittish horse. SYNONYM(S): excitable. 2. fickle; changeable: »a skittish wind. SYNONYM(S): capricious, volatile …   Useful english dictionary

  • coyness — coy·ness …   English syllables

  • Coyness — Coy ness, n. The quality of being coy; feigned o? bashful unwillingness to become familiar; reserve. [1913 Webster] When the kind nymph would coyness feign, And hides but to be found again. Dryden. Syn: Reserve; shrinking; shyness; backwardness;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • List of Army Cadet Force units — Main article: Army Cadet Force The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (British Army). The ACF is largely composed of individual… …   Wikipedia

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