April 14, 2008
Monday, 14th April 2008 : Today's Word is ...
Coy
Comparative : coyer
Superlative : coyest
Pronunciation : k-oy
1. annoyingly reluctant to make a commitment or to divulge something
2. pretending, in a teasing or provocative way, to be reserved or modest
3. shy or reserved in social situations
4. pretending to be shy
14th century - Via French - coi - quiet - Latin quietus
backward, bashful, demure, diffident, modest, retiring, self-effacing, shy, timid, coquettish, flirtatious, flirty
aggressive, forward, immodest, impudent, unshy
� The child appeared coy but was really planning her next adventure.
� The mayor was coy about his future political aspirations.
� A horse was in waiting to receive the princess who was mounted behind one of the clerks and thus conveyed, coy but compliant to the fortress.
� His work is like exquisite modern Latin verse into the academic shape of which, discreet and coy, comes a sincere, deeply felt consciousness of modern life, of the modern world as it is.
� coyness : Noun
� coyly : Adverb
� coyish : Adjective