coy
/kɔɪ/
Meanings
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adjective
Behaving in a demure or shy manner, especially to attract attention or admiration.
- "She gave a coy smile as she accepted the award."
- "He found her coy behavior intriguing."
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adjective
Reluctant or uncommitted, especially when dealing with advances or invitations.
- "The coy teenager refused to give her phone number to the boy."
- "He was taken aback by her coy response."
Pronunciation
-
/kɔɪ/
Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75729720" -
/kɔɪ/
Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2358017" -
/kɔɪ/
Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75729720" -
/kɔɪ/
Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2358017" -
/kɔɪ/
Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75729720" -
/kɔɪ/
Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2358017"
Rhymes
Words rhyming with coytoy , joy , boy , voice , noise , poise
Variants
List of all variants of coy that leads to same resultcoier , coiest , coy , coyer , coyest , coyly , coyness , coynesses , coyed , coying , coys , play coy
Forms
Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).The comparative form of 'coy' is 'more coy'. The superlative form of 'coy' is 'most coy'., coyly, coyer, coyest
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.Originally meant 'shrewd' or 'clever' in Middle English, later came to mean 'coy' or 'shy' in English.
Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word-
The term 'coy' comes from the Middle English word 'coye', meaning 'clever' or 'shrewd'.
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In some cultures, a coy bride is considered a desirable trait, as it shows demureness and modesty.
Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to-
shyness: A personality trait characterized by feeling uncomfortable in social situations and avoiding attention.
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modesty: A quality of not being arrogant or boastful; humility.
Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities-
It is distinctly odd to read a whole page dedicated to Hitler's life and character without a reference to his anti-Semitism. To say that Swiss banks contained gold coming from the bank accounts, the jewelry boxes, and the teeth of "concentration camp victims" is a little "coy".
- Ian Buruma,{it}New Republic{/it},31 Jan. 2000 -
Rival camps are terrified that Bush will reject federal matching funds and the campaign-spending limits they impose, and Bush's aides are "coy" on the subject.
- John F. Dickerson,{it}Time{/it},8 Mar. 1999 -
And there's Julia, the charming "chatterbot" (a text-based computer character), whose "coy" pickup banter echoes that of real-life Internet flirts.
- Michiko Kakutani,Albany (New York) {it}Times-Union{/it},20 Aug. 1997
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.In literature, 'coy' has been used to describe characters who are shy or demure. In art, it can be depicted through body language or facial expressions. In music, the term 'coy' can be found in song titles and lyrics.
How to Memorize "coy"
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visualize
- Imagine a shy person blushing and looking away when receiving a compliment. Visualize a coy smile.
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associate
- Associate the word 'coy' with the image of a bashful, demure person.
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mnemonics
- Create a sentence using the word 'coy': 'The coy fox played hard to get, but eventually gave in to the hunter's advances'.
Memorize "coy" using Dictozo
The best and recommended way to memorize coy is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:
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Highlighting:
Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
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Periodic Reminders:
Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.