Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Coy
Coy
(koi)
, Adj.
1.
Quiet; still.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
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
Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest.
coy
maid, half willings to be pressed,Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest.
Goldsmith.
3.
Soft; gentle; hesitating.
Syn. – Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.
Coy
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Coyed
(koid)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Coying
.] 1.
To allure; to entice; to decoy.
[Obs.]
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
While I thy amiable cheeks do
coy
. Shakespeare
Coy
,Verb.
I.
1.
To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity.
[Obs.]
Thus to
With one who knows you too!
coy
it,With one who knows you too!
Rowe.
2.
To make difficulty; to be unwilling.
[Obs.]
If he
To hear Cominius speak, I ’ll keep at home.
coyed
To hear Cominius speak, I ’ll keep at home.
Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Coy
COY
,Adj.
Like Daphne she, as lovely and as coy.
COY
,Verb.
I.
1.
To behave with reserve; to be silent or distant; to refrain from speech or free intercourse.2.
To make difficulty; to be backward or unwilling; not freely to condescend.3.
To smooth or stroke.COY
, for decoy, to allure. [Not in use.]Definition 2024
coy
coy
See also: cố ý
English
Adjective
coy (comparative coyer, superlative coyest)
- (dated) Bashful, shy, retiring.
- (archaic) Quiet, reserved, modest.
- Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
- Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
- Soft, gentle, hesitating.
- Shakespeare
- Enforced hate, / Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
- Shakespeare
Derived terms
Translations
bashful, shy
archaic: quiet, reserved, modest
reluctant to give details about something sensitive
pretending shyness or modesty
soft, gentle, hesitating
|
Verb
coy (third-person singular simple present coys, present participle coying, simple past and past participle coyed)
- (transitive, obsolete) To caress, pet; to coax, entice.
- Shakespeare
- Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, / While I thy amiable cheeks do coy.
- Shakespeare
- (transitive, obsolete) To calm or soothe.
- To allure; to decoy.
- Bishop Rainbow
- A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets.
- Bishop Rainbow
Etymology 2
Compare decoy.
Noun
coy (plural coys)
Etymology 3
Abbreviation of company.
Noun
coy (plural coys)
References
- “coy” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).