different between coy vs diffident
coy
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /k??/
- Rhymes: -??
- Homophone: koi
Etymology 1
From Middle English coy, from Old French coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from Latin quietus (“resting, at rest”). Doublet of quiet.
Adjective
coy (comparative coyer, superlative coyest)
- (dated) Bashful, shy, retiring.
- (archaic) Quiet, reserved, modest.
- Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
- Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
- 1981, A. D. Hope, "His Coy Mistress to Mr. Marvell," A Book of Answers:
- The ill-bred miss, the bird-brained Jill, / May simper and be coy at will; / A lady, sir, as you will find, / Keeps counsel, or she speaks her mind, / Means what she says and scorns to fence / And palter with feigned innocence.
- 1981, A. D. Hope, "His Coy Mistress to Mr. Marvell," A Book of Answers:
- Soft, gentle, hesitating.
- 1594, William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece
- Enforced hate, / Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
- 1594, William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece
Derived terms
- coyly
- coyness
Related terms
Translations
Verb
coy (third-person singular simple present coys, present participle coying, simple past and past participle coyed)
- (transitive, obsolete) To caress, pet; to coax, entice.
- (transitive, obsolete) To calm or soothe.
- (transitive, obsolete) To allure; to decoy.
Etymology 2
Compare decoy.
Noun
coy (plural coys)
- A trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.
Etymology 3
Abbreviation of company.
Noun
coy (plural coys)
- (military) A company
References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “coy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
Anagrams
- CYO
Huave
Etymology 1
Noun
coy
- rheumatism
References
- Stairs Kreger, Glenn Albert; Scharfe de Stairs, Emily Florence; Olvaries Oviedo, Proceso; Ponce Villanueva, Tereso; Comonfort Llave, Lorenzo (1981) Diccionario huave de San Mateo del Mar (Serie de vocabularios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 24)?[1] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, pages 88, 205, 268
Etymology 2
Noun
coy
- rabbit
References
- Stairs Kreger, Glenn Albert; Scharfe de Stairs, Emily Florence; Olvaries Oviedo, Proceso; Ponce Villanueva, Tereso; Comonfort Llave, Lorenzo (1981) Diccionario huave de San Mateo del Mar (Serie de vocabularios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 24)?[2] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, pages 88, 212, 416
Etymology 3
Noun
coy
- short tail, stub
References
- Stairs Kreger, Glenn Albert; Scharfe de Stairs, Emily Florence; Olvaries Oviedo, Proceso; Ponce Villanueva, Tereso; Comonfort Llave, Lorenzo (1981) Diccionario huave de San Mateo del Mar (Serie de vocabularios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 24)?[3] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, pages 88, 211, 265
Middle French
Alternative forms
- coi
- quoy
Etymology
From Old French coi, from Vulgar Latin quetus, from Latin quietus.
Adjective
coy m (feminine singular coye, masculine plural coys, feminine plural coyes)
- (of a person) calm; composed
Descendants
- French: coi
Spanish
Etymology
From Dutch kooi (“bunk”). Doublet of gavia and cávea.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?koi/, [?koi?]
Noun
coy m (plural coyes or cois)
- (nautical) a type of hammock made of sailcloth used as a makeshift bunk
Wastek
Noun
coy
- rabbit
coy From the web:
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diffident
English
Etymology
Latin diff?dentem, present participle of diff?dere (“to mistrust”). Doublet of defiant.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?d?f?d?nt/
Adjective
diffident (comparative more diffident, superlative most diffident)
- (archaic) Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
- Lacking self-confidence; timid; modest
- Synonyms: timid, modest
Related terms
Translations
Latin
Verb
diff?dent
- third-person plural future active indicative of diff?d?
diffident From the web:
- what diffident means
- diffident what part of speech
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