Coy Definition

koi
coyest, coyer
adjective
coyest, coyer
Affectedly and often flirtatiously shy or modest.
American Heritage
Quiet; silent.
Webster's New World
Characterized by or suggesting such shyness or modesty.
American Heritage
Shrinking from contact or familiarity with others; bashful; shy.
Webster's New World
Primly reserved; demure.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
verb
To behave in a coy way.
Webster's New World
To pet or caress.
Webster's New World

To allure; to decoy.

Wiktionary
noun

A trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Coy

Noun

Singular:
coy
Plural:
coys

Adjective

Base Form:
coy
Comparative:
coyer
Superlative:
coyest

Origin of Coy

  • Middle English from Old French quei, coi quiet, still from Vulgar Latin quētus from Latin quiētus past participle of quiēscere to rest kweiə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from Latin quietus (“resting, at rest”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Compare decoy.

    From Wiktionary

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