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coy

adjective

  1. of unclear sincerity
L14733 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /kɔɪ/

adj

Etymology: 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.

  1. Bashful, shy, retiring.
  2. Quiet, reserved, modest.
  3. Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
  4. Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.

    The ill-bred miss, the bird-brained Jill, / May simper and be coy at will; / A lady, sir, as you will find, / Keeps counsel, or she speaks her mind, / Means what she says and scorns to fence / And palter with feigned innocence.

  5. Soft, gentle, hesitating.

    Enforced hate, / Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.

name

Etymology: The community is named after local merchant George McCoy.

  1. A surname.
  2. An unincorporated community in McDonald County, Missouri.

noun

Etymology: Abbreviation of company.

  1. A company

verb

Etymology: 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.

  1. To caress, pet; to coax, entice.

    Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, / While I thy amiable cheeks do coy.

  2. To calm or soothe.
  3. To allure; to decoy.

    For now there are ſprung up a wiſer generation in this kind, who have the Art to coy the fonder ſort into their nets