Shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others. Having a shy or sweetly innocent quality that is often intended to be attractive or to get attention (especially of women) being or pretending to be shy…
coywilder
Artfully or affectedly shy or reserved
See examples of coy used in a sentence.
If someone is being coy, they are unwilling to talk about something that they feel guilty or embarrassed about The hotel are understandably coy about the incident. When insincere or affected, to reveal one's plans or opinions, make a commitment, or take a stand The mayor was coy about his future political aspirations.
There are 16 meanings listed in oed's entry for the word coy, eight of which are labelled obsolete See ‘meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. From middle english coy, from old french coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from latin qu (i)ētus (“resting, at rest”) Doublet of quit, quiet, quite and quietus.
Affectedly and often flirtatiously shy or modest
I pictured myself as some sylvan deity, and she a coy wood nymph of whom i was in pursuit (washington irving). Take the adjective coy for a person who pretends to be shy but really isn't, or someone who could give a definite answer but won't Coy behavior can be playful or just plain annoying.
