Coy
Coy (koi) , adjective
[Old English coi quiet, still, Old French coi, coit, fromL. quietus quiet, past participle of quiescere to rest, quie rest; prob. akin to English while. See While, and compare Quiet, Quit, Quite.]
1.
Quiet; still. [Obsolete] — Chaucer
2.
Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry.
Coy, and difficult to win.
Coy and furtive graces.
Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed,
Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest.
3.
Soft; gentle; hesitating.
Enforced hate,
Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
Coy (koid) , transitive verb
1.
To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obsolete]
A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets.
2.
To caress with the hand; to stroke.
Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed,
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy.
Coy , intransitive verb
1.
To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obsolete]
Thus to coy it,
With one who knows you too!
2.
To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obsolete]
If he coyed
To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home.