DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
Coy a.
1. Quiet; still. [Obs.]
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.
Syn: -- Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.
Coy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coyed 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 coy. --Shak.
Coy, v. i.
1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obs.]
Thus to coy it,
With one who knows you too! --Rowe.
2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.]
If he coyed
To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. --Shak.
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coy
adj 1: affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or
provocative way [syn: demure, overmodest]
2: showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness
or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement;
"a politician coy about his intentions"
3: modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures; "like
a wild young colt, very inquisitive but very coy and not
to be easily cajoled"