Link Centre Dictionary

coy

UK/kɔɪ/ US/ˈkɔɪ/ uncommon archaic dated obsolete

adjective

1.
2.

showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement

  • “a politician coy about his intentions”
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3.

modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures

  • “like a wild young colt, very inquisitive but very coy and not to be easily cajoled”
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Origin

From Middle English coy, from Old French coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from Latin qu(i)ētus (“resting, at rest”). Doublet of quit, quiet, quite, and quietus.

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.