coy

/ˈkȯi/

Middle English, quiet, shy, from Anglo-French quoi, quei, koi quiet, from Latin quietus

adjective

  1. marked by cute, coquettish, or artful playfulness

  2. shrinking from contact or familiarity

  3. showing reluctance to make a definite commitment

using coy tricks to attract attention

"'Tis but a kiss I beg, Why art thou coy?"

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. bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

verb

  1. caress

  2. to act coyly

idiom

  1. to avoid giving a direct or complete answer

When asked about his next book, he played coy.