n.
Pronunciation: ' sh ī
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: shi · er or shy · er \ ' sh ī (- ə )r \ ; shi · est or shy · est \ ' sh ī - ə st \
Etymology: Middle English schey, from Old English sc ē oh; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off
Date: before 12th century
1 : easily frightened : TIMID
2 : disposed to avoid a person or thing <publicity shy >
3 : hesitant in committing oneself : CIRCUMSPECT
4 : sensitively diffident or retiring : RESERVED also : expressive of such a state or nature <a shy smile>
5 : SECLUDED , HIDDEN
6 : having less than the full or specified amount or number : SHORT <just shy of six feet tall>
7 : DISREPUTABLE <gambling hells and shy saloons ― Blackwood's >
– shy · ly adverb
– shy · ness noun
synonyms SHY , BASHFUL , DIFFIDENT , MODEST , COY mean not inclined to be forward. SHY implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others < shy with strangers>. BASHFUL implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence <a bashful boy out on his first date>. DIFFIDENT stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking <felt diffident about raising an objection>. MODEST suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit < modest about her success>. COY implies a pretended shyness <put off by her coy manner>.