different between humbled vs shy

English

Adjective

humbled (comparative more humbled, superlative most humbled)

1. (usually qualifying a first-person pronoun) Grateful for the support of others, touched; honored, flattered.
   • 2014 September 24, "Web Access... Simon Pegg / Edgar Wright" BBC Online:

     JJ: Are you humbled by such positive reactions from such a wide spectrum of people, from George A Romero to Harry Knowles?

     SP: Absolutely. Yeah, it's wonderful. ... We're very humbled and very pleased.

   • 2014 November 4, John Boehner Statement by Speaker Boehner On Outlook For The 114th Congress:

     We are humbled by the responsibility the American people have placed with us, but this is not a time for celebration.

   • 2015 May, C. Joyce Hall "Humbled and Honored" ABA Health eSource Vol. 11 No. 9:

     I cannot adequately express my sincere thanks to the Section leaders who saw fit to take a chance on me and ask me to get involved in leadership in the Section. Thank you for being excellent role models. I am honored and humbled to serve.

   • 2015 September 12, 'HONORED AND HUMBLED' ESPINOZA TO RECEIVE LAFFIT PINCAY, JR. AWARD Paulick Report:

     "Anytime I win an award of any kind I am honored and humbled," Espinoza said.

2. Overcome with humility; in awe of the strength of another or one's own weakness
   • 2010 February 1, Tom Hagan 'I am humbled by these people' National Catholic Reporter:

     They would continue to suffer greatly but they have a strength that is remarkable. I am humbled by them and privileged to be with them.

Usage notes

The use of such forms as "I am humbled" in victory speeches and the like has been criticised as an oxymoron given the meaning of the verb humble. It indicates modesty via a sense of unworthiness of the honor, or surprise at one's success; humility rather than humiliation. See also humblebrag.

In contrast, at times "humbled" or "humbling" may reflect deference to a Higher Power and include direct or inferred reference and subservience to the same.

Verb

humbled

1. simple past tense and past participle of humble

References

English

Etymology

From Middle English shy (“shy”), from Old English s??oh (“shy”), from Proto-West Germanic *skeuh (“shy, fearful”), from Proto-Germanic *skeuhaz (“shy, fearful”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian skjou (“shy”), Dutch schuw (“shy”), German scheu (“shy”), Danish sky (“shy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?a?/
• Rhymes: -a?
• Homophone: Chi

Adjective

shy (comparative shier or shyer or more shy, superlative shiest or shyest or most shy)

1. Easily frightened; timid.
   • 1726, Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels

     The horses of the army, and those of the royal stables, having been daily led before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting.

2. Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:shy

   Antonyms: audacious, bold, brazen, gregarious, extroverted, outgoing

   • 1712, John Arbuthnot, The History of John Bull

     What makes you so shy, my good friend? There's nobody loves you better than I.

3. Cautious; wary; suspicious.
   • 1641, Henry Wotton, The Characters of Robert Devereux and George Villiers

     Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of their successors.

   • 1661, Robert Boyle , Some Considerations Touching Experimental Essays in General

     I am very shy of building any thing of moment upon foundations

4. (informal) Short, insufficient or less than.
5. Embarrassed.

   (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Usage notes

• Often used in combination with a noun to produce an adjective or adjectival phrase.
• Adjectives are usually applicable to animals (leash-shy "shy of leashes" or head shy "shy of contact around the head" (of horses)) or to children.

Derived terms

• shy bairns get nowt, shy bairns get noot

Translations

See also

• bashful
• reserved
• timid
• demure
• coy

Verb

shy (third-person singular simple present shies, present participle shying, simple past and past participle shied)

1. (intransitive) To avoid due to caution or timidness.

2. (intransitive) To jump back in fear.

3. (transitive) To throw sideways with a jerk; to fling.

Translations

Noun

shy (plural shies)

1. An act of throwing.

   • Foker discharged a prodigious bouquet at her, and even Smirke made a feeble shy with a rose, and blushed dreadfully when it fell into the pit

   • 1846, Punch Volume 10

     If Lord Brougham gets a stone in his hand, he must, it seems, have a shy at somebody.

   • 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin 2009, p. 55:

     The game had started. A man was chasing the ball, it went out for a shy.

2. A place for throwing.

3. A sudden start aside, as by a horse.
4. In the Eton College wall game, a point scored by lifting the ball against the wall in the calx.

Derived terms

• coconut shy
• have a shy

Translations

Anagrams

• Hys, hys, syh