Definition of Coy

Pronunciation: koid
a.1.Quiet; still.
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.
v. t.1.To allure; to entice; to decoy.
[imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid); p. pr. & vb. n. Coying.]
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.
v. i.1.To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity.
Thus to coy it,
With one who knows you too!
- Rowe.
2.To make difficulty; to be unwilling.
If he coyed
To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home.
- Shak.


Related Words

amative, amatory, arch, bashful, capricious, caressive, confused, conscious, coquettish, decent, decorous, demure, diffident, flirtatious, flirty, inarticulate, kittenish, lively, mischievous, mousy, nice, playful, proper, rabbity, retiring, roguish, seemly, self-conscious, self-effacing, sexual, shamefaced, shamefast, skittish, stammering, timid, timorous, unassertive, unassured

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