shy adj
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shy — adj Shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy can mean showing disinclination to obtrude oneself in the presence or company of others. Shy implies a shrinking, sometimes constitutional, sometimes the result of inexperience, from familiarity or contact … New Dictionary of Synonyms
shy — {{11}}shy (adj.) late O.E. sceoh shy, from P.Gmc. *skeukh(w)az afraid (Cf. M.L.G. schüwe, Du. schuw, Ger. scheu shy; O.H.G. sciuhen, Ger. scheuchen to scare away ). Uncertain cognates outside Germanic, unless in O.C.S. scuti to hunt, incite. It.… … Etymology dictionary
shy — shy1 [shī] adj. shyer or shier, shyest or shiest [ME schei, dial. development < OE sceoh, akin to Ger scheu, shy, prob. < IE * skeuk , harassed (> OSlav ščuti, to pursue); akin to * skeub > SCOFF1] 1. easily frightened or startled;… … English World dictionary
shy — [[t]ʃa͟ɪ[/t]] shyer, shyest, shies, shying, shied 1) ADJ GRADED A shy person is nervous and uncomfortable in the company of other people. She was a shy, quiet spoken girl... She was a shy and retiring person off stage... He is painfully shy of… … English dictionary
shy — shy1 shyer, n. shyly, adv. shyness, n. /shuy/, adj., shyer or shier, shyest or shiest, v … Universalium
shy — shy1 [ʃaı] adj comparative shyer superlative shyest [: Old English; Origin: sceoh] 1.) nervous and embarrassed about meeting and speaking to other people, especially people you do not know ▪ He was a quiet, shy man. shy with ▪ She was very shy… … Dictionary of contemporary English
shy — 1. adj., v., & n. adj. (shyer, shyest or shier, shiest) 1 a diffident or uneasy in company; timid. b (of an animal, bird, etc.) easily startled; timid. 2 (foll. by of) avoiding; chary of (shy of his aunt; shy of going to meetings). 3 (in comb.)… … Useful english dictionary
shy — I [[t]ʃaɪ[/t]] adj. shy•er shi•er, shy•est shi•est, 1) bashful; retiring 2) easily frightened away; timid 3) distrustful; wary: shy of publicity[/ex] 4) deficient: shy of funds[/ex] 5) short of a full amount or number: a few dollars shy of our… … From formal English to slang
shy — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} verb ADVERB ▪ violently PREPOSITION ▪ at ▪ Her horse shied violently at a gorse bush. Shy is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑horse {{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}} … Collocations dictionary
shy — I adj. wary 1) shy about, of (BE) lacking (esp. AE) 2) shy of (we are still a little shy of our quota) II v. (D; intr.) to shy at (the horse shied at the noise) * * * [ʃaɪ] of (BE) [ wary ] shyabout (D; intr.) to shy at … Combinatory dictionary
