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.
Coy boy acts shy but flirts sly!
She acts coy near the boy, hiding behind her toy!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤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
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.