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coy

   Also found in: Acronyms, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
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 *qutus, from Latin quitus, past participle of quiscere, to rest; see kwei- in Indo-European roots.]

coyly adv.
coyness n.

coy
Adjective
1. affectedly shy and modest
2. unwilling to give information [Latin quietus quiet]
coyly adv
coyness n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.coy - affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
modest - not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance
2.coy - showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement; "a politician coy about his intentions"
indefinite - vague or not clearly defined or stated; "must you be so indefinite?"; "amorphous blots of color having vague and indefinite edges"; "he would not answer so indefinite a proposal"
3.coy - modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures; "like a wild young colt, very inquisitive but very coy and not to be easily cajoled"
timid - showing fear and lack of confidence

coy
adjective 2. uncommunicative, mum, secretive, reserved, quiet, silent, evasive, taciturn, unforthcoming, tight-lipped, close-lipped
Translations
Spanish coy [kɔɪ] adjtímido
French coy [kɔɪ] adjfaussement effarouché(e) or timide
German coy [kɔɪ] adjverschämt
Italian coy [kɔɪ] adjfalsamente timido/a

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
A horse was in waiting to receive the princess, who was mounted behind one of the clerks, and thus conveyed, coy but compliant, to the fortress.
His work is like exquisite modern Latin verse, into the academic shape of which, discreet and coy, comes a sincere, deeply felt consciousness of modern life, of the modern world as it is.
The anxious mother had to console herself with the fact that her daughter drove away the ineligible as ruthlessly as the eligible, formed no unworldly attachments, was still very young, and would grow less coy as she advanced in years and in what Mrs.
 
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