coy — pretending to be shy or modest in a flirtatious way; reluctant to give details
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: pretending to be shy or modest in a flirtatious way; reluctant to give details
Pronunciation (IPA): /kɔɪ/
Example Sentences
- The celebrity was coy about revealing her new boyfriend's identity.
- Don't be coy with me - I know you ate the last slice of pizza!
- She played coy when asked about her crush, twirling her hair nervously.
coy
ADJECTIVE[/kɔɪ/]
pretending to be shy or modest in a flirtatious way; reluctant to give details
She gave a coy smile from behind her fan at the ballroom.
C(conceal) + OY(joy) — trying to C(conceal) her secret OY(joy), she remained highly coy when asked about the promotion.
Hiding her favorite toy from the loud boy, the little girl gave a shy and coy smile.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'coi' meaning quiet or calm, derived from Latin 'quietus' meaning at rest or still. The word evolved to describe a shy or demure manner, particularly in a flirtatious context.
Breakdown
The word 'coy' is a single morpheme with no productive prefix or suffix in modern English, derived directly from Old French 'coi' (quiet)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The celebrity was coy about revealing her new boyfriend's identity.”
“Don't be coy with me - I know you ate the last slice of pizza!”
“She played coy when asked about her crush, twirling her hair nervously.”
📚Related Words
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