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Added 9 October 2026

shy

/ʃaɪ/ symbol

In Latin: timidus, pavidus Wiktionary

symbol Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about shy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

ISO 639-3 language code for Tachawit. The native name for the Shawiya language.

adjective

Easily frightened; timid.
Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.
He is very shy with strangers.
Cautious; wary; suspicious.

verb

To avoid due to caution, embarrassment or timidness.
To jump back in fear.
The horse shied at the unexpected approach of a motor vehicle.
To throw sideways with a jerk; to fling.
to shy a stone

noun

An act of throwing.
A place for throwing.
coconut shy
A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

Origin

From Middle English shy (“shy”), from Old English sċēoh (“shy”), from Proto-West Germanic *skeuh (“shy, fearful”), from Proto-Germanic *skeuhaz (“shy, fearful”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian skjou (“shy”), Dutch schuw (“shy”), German scheu (“shy”), Danish sky (“shy”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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