shy
1. shy \'shi-\ \'shi-(-*)r\ \'shi-*st\ aj or shi.er or shy.er; or shi.est;
or shy.est [ME schey, fr. OE sce-oh; akin to OHG sciuhen to frighten]off,
OSlav shachek>chachek>uti to chase 1: easily frightened : TIMID 2:
disposed to avoid a person or thing : DISTRUSTFUL 3: hesitant in
committing oneself : CHARY 4: marked by sensitive diffidence : BASHFUL 5:
HIDDEN, SECLUDED 6a: very light : SCANT 6b: DEFICIENT, LACKING 7:
DISREPUTABLE {~ saloon} mplies a timid reserve and a shrinking from
familiarity or contact with others; BASHFUL implies a frightened or
hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence; DIFFIDENT
stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation
in acting or speaking; MODEST suggests absence of undue confidence or
conceit; COY implies an assumed or affected shyness SYN syn BASHFUL,
DIFFIDENT, MODEST, COY: SHY i
2. shy vi or shied; or shy.ing 1: to develop or show a sudden dislike or
distaste : RECOIL { shied from publicity} 2: to start suddenly aside
through fright or alarm
3. shy n or shies pl : a sudden start aside (as of a horse)
4. shy vb or shied; or shy.ing [perh. fr. 1shy] : to throw with a jerk :
FLING
5. shy n or shies pl 1: the act of shying : TOSS, THROW 2: a verbal fling
3: COCKSHY