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shy
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2009 Apr 23To view this video you need version 8 or higher of the Flash plugin installed and javascript enabled in your browser.
adjective, not at ease in the company of others
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shy1
- 1) adjective, not at ease in the company of others
- 2) adjective, easily frightened; timid
- 3) adjective, watchful or wary
- 4) adjective, poker (of a player) without enough money to back his bet
- 5) adjective, (of plants and animals) not breeding or producing offspring freely
- 6) adjective, short (of)
- 7) adjective, showing reluctance or disinclination
- 8) verb, to move suddenly, as from fear
- 9) verb, to draw back; recoil
- 10) noun, a sudden movement, as from fear
Etymology
Old English sceoh; related to Old High German sciuhen to frighten away, Dutch schuw shy, Swedish skygg
shy2
- 1) verb, to throw (something) with a sideways motion
- 2) noun, a quick throw
- 3) noun, a gibe
- 4) noun, an attempt; experiment
- 5) noun, short for cockshy
Etymology
C18: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German sciuhen to make timid, Middle Dutch schüchteren to chase away
Collins English Electronic Dictionary - Digital Edition: 2008 © HarperCollins Publishers 2008
Related words
Synonyms
self-conscious, bashful, modesty, nervous, timorous, mousy, timid, recoil, flinch, start, rear, buck, wince, swerve, balk, quail, reserved, retiring, modest, shrink, backward, coy, reticent, self-effacing, diffident, cautious, wary, hesitant, suspicious, chary
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