shy

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• COUNT in NET: 1 in 1 verses (in OT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

shy, a. [OE. schey, skey, sceouh, AS. sceóh; akin to Dan. sky, Sw. skygg, D. schuw, MHG. schiech, G. scheu, OHG. sciuhen to be or make timid. Cf. Eschew.].

•  Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird.  [1913 Webster]

  "The horses of the army . . . were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting."  [1913 Webster]
•  Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach.  [1913 Webster]

  "What makes you so shy, my good friend? There's nobody loves you better than I."  [1913 Webster]

  "The embarrassed look of shy distress
  And maidenly shamefacedness."  [1913 Webster]
•  Cautious; wary; suspicious.  [1913 Webster]

  "I am very shy of using corrosive liquors in the preparation of medicines."  [1913 Webster]

  "Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of thier successors."  [1913 Webster]
•  Inadequately supplied; short; lacking; as, the team is shy two players.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  owing money to the pot; -- in cases where an opponent's bet has exceeded a player's available stake or chips, but the player chooses to continue playing the hand before adding the required bet to the pot.  [PJC]

To fight shy. See under Fight, v. i.

shy, v. i. [From Shy, a.].

 To start suddenly aside through fright or suspicion; -- said especially of horses.  [1913 Webster]

shy, v. t. 

 To throw sidewise with a jerk; to fling; as, to shy a stone; to shy a slipper.  T. Hughes.  [1913 Webster]

shy, n. 

•  A sudden start aside, as by a horse.  [1913 Webster]
•  A side throw; a throw; a fling.  Thackeray.  [1913 Webster]

  "If Lord Brougham gets a stone in his hand, he must, it seems, have a shy at somebody."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

shy, adj., v., & n.
--adj. (shyer, shyest or shier, shiest)
1 a diffident or uneasy in company; timid. b (of an animal, bird, etc.) easily startled; timid.
2 (foll. by of) avoiding; chary of (shy of his aunt; shy of going to meetings).
3 (in comb.) showing fear of or distaste for (gun-shy; work-shy).
4 (often foll. by of, on) colloq. having lost; short of (I'm shy three quid; shy of the price of admission).
--v.intr. (shies, shied)
1 (usu. foll. by at) (esp. of a horse) start suddenly aside (at an object, noise, etc.) in fright.
2 (usu. foll. by away from, at) avoid accepting or becoming involved in (a proposal etc.) in alarm.
--n. a sudden startled movement.

Derivative

shyer n. shyly adv. (also shily). shyness n.

shy, v. & n.
--v.tr. (shies, shied) (also absol.) fling or throw (a stone etc.).
--n. the act or an instance of shying.

Idiom

have a shy at colloq.
1 try to hit with a stone etc.
2 make an attempt at.
3 jeer at.

Derivative

shyer n.

Etymology

18th c.: orig. unkn.

THESAURUS

shy

Pyrrhonic, about the bush, afraid, agnostic, apprehensive, around the bush, arrested, averse, avert, avoid, back down, backhanded, backward, balance, balk, bankrupt in, bare of, bashful, be startled, bear off, beat about, beat around, beg the question, bereft of, bicker, bilk, blench, blink, boggle, boggling, bowl, cagey, callow, cast, cast at, catapult, cautious, cavil, chary, choplogic, chuck, chuck at, chunk, circumspect, confused, conscious, cowardly, coy, cringe, dart, dash, debate, defective, deficient, deliberate, demur, demure, demurring, denuded of, deprived of, destitute of, devoid of, diffident, distrustful, dodge, double, doubtful, doubting, draw aside, draw back, draw in, dubious, duck, ease off, edge off, elude, embryonic, empty of, equivocate, eschew, evade, evade the issue, fade, failing, fall back, falter, faltering, fear, fearful, fearing, fearsome, fence, fight shy, fight shy of, fire, fire at, flinch, fling, fling at, flip, fly off, for want of, fork, forlorn of, from Missouri, gag, gee, glance, glance off, go off, goosy, hang back, hang off, have qualms, haw, head off, heave, heave at, hedge, hem and haw, hesitant, hesitate, hesitating, hold off, hover, hum and haw, hurl, hurl against, hurl at, hurtle, hypoplastic, immature, in arrear, in arrears, in default, in default of, in doubt, in fear, in short supply, in want of, inadequate, inarticulate, incomplete, indisposed, infant, insufficient, introversive, introvert, introverted, jerk, jib, jump, jump a mile, jumpy, lacking, lance, launch, leery, let fly, let fly at, loath, lob, make bones about, make way for, missing, mistrustful, mistrusting, modest, mousy, move aside, mystify, needing, nervous, nitpick, obscure, out of, out of pocket, palter, panic, parry, part, partial, pass, patchy, pause, peg, pelt, pick nits, pitch, pitchfork, ponder, pot, prevaricate, pull away, pull back, pull in, pull out, pussyfoot, put, put off, put the shot, quail, qualmish, questioning, quibble, rabbity, recoil, reel back, reluctant, reserved, retiring, retract, retreat, scant, scant of, scanty, scarce, scary, scrappy, scruple, scrupulous, self-conscious, self-distrustful, self-effacing, serve, shaky, shamefaced, shamefast, sheepish, sheer off, shift, shift off, shilly-shally, shivery, short, short of, shove aside, shrink, shrink back, shrinking, shuffle, shun, shunt, shy at, shy away, shy of, shy off, side, sidestep, sideswipe, sidetrack, sidle, skedaddle, skeptical, sketchy, skittery, skittish, sling, sling at, snap, split hairs, squeamish, stammering, stampede, start, start aside, start back, startle, startlish, steer clear of, step aside, stick, stick at, stickle, stickling, stop to consider, straddle the fence, strain, strain at, stumble, suspecting, suspicious, swerve, switch, tergiversate, think twice about, throw, throw at, tilt, timid, timorous, toss, toss at, trembling, tremulous, trepidant, trigger-happy, turn aside, turn away, turn back, unassertive, unassured, unblessed with, uncertain, underdeveloped, undeveloped, uneager, unpossessed of, untrusting, unwilling, veer off, void of, wanting, ward off, wary, waver, weasel, weasel out, wince, withdraw, yield

ROGET THESAURUS

shy

Avoidance

VB abstain, refrain, spare, not attempt, not do, maintain the even tenor of one's way, eschew, keep from, let alone, have nothing to do with, keep aloof keep off, stand aloof, stand off, hold aloof, hold off, take no part in, have no hand in, avoid, shun, steer clear of, keep clear of, fight shy of, keep one's distance, keep at a respectful distance, keep out of the way, get out of the way, evade, elude, turn away from, set one's face against, deny oneself, shrink back, hang back, hold back, draw back, recoil, retire, flinch, blink, blench, shy, shirk, dodge, parry, make way for, give place to, beat a retreat, turn tail, turn one's back, take to one's heels, runaway, run for one's life, cut and run, be off like a shot, fly, flee, fly away, flee away, run away from, take flight, take to flight, desert, elope, make off, scamper off, sneak off, shuffle off, sheer off, break away, tear oneself away, slip away, slink away, steel away, make away from, scamper away from, sneak away from, shuffle away from, sheer away from, slip cable, part company, turn one's heel, sneak out of, play truant, give one the go by, give leg bail, take French leave, slope, decamp, flit, bolt, abscond, levant, skedaddle, absquatulat, cut one's stick, walk one's chalks, show a light pair of heels, make oneself scarce, escape, go away, abandon, reject, lead one a dance, lead one a pretty dance, throw off the scent, play at hide and seek, Adj, unsought, unattempted, avoiding, neutral, shy of, elusive, evasive, fugitive, runaway, shy, wild, abstain, refrain, spare, not attempt, not do, maintain the even tenor of one's way, eschew, keep from, let alone, have nothing to do with, keep aloof keep off, stand aloof, stand off, hold aloof, hold off, take no part in, have no hand in, avoid, shun, steer clear of, keep clear of, fight shy of, keep one's distance, keep at a respectful distance, keep out of the way, get out of the way, evade, elude, turn away from, set one's face against, deny oneself, shrink back, hang back, hold back, draw back, recoil, retire, flinch, blink, blench, shy, shirk, dodge, parry, make way for, give place to, beat a retreat, turn tail, turn one's back, take to one's heels, runaway, run for one's life, cut and run, be off like a shot, fly, flee, fly away, flee away, run away from, take flight, take to flight, desert, elope, make off, scamper off, sneak off, shuffle off, sheer off, break away, tear oneself away, slip away, slink away, steel away, make away from, scamper away from, sneak away from, shuffle away from, sheer away from, slip cable, part company, turn one's heel, sneak out of, play truant, give one the go by, give leg bail, take French leave, slope, decamp, flit, bolt, abscond, levant, skedaddle, absquatulat, cut one's stick, walk one's chalks, show a light pair of heels, make oneself scarce, escape, go away, abandon, reject, lead one a dance, lead one a pretty dance, throw off the scent, play at hide and seek, Adj, unsought, unattempted, avoiding, neutral, shy of, elusive, evasive, fugitive, runaway, shy, wild.

N avoidance, abstention, abstinence, for bearance, refraining, inaction, neutrality, avoidance, evasion, elusion, seclusion, avolation, flight, escape, retreat, recoil, departure, rejection, shirker, truant, fugitive, refugee, runaway, runagate, maroon, unsought, unattempted, avoiding, neutral, shy of, elusive, evasive, fugitive, runaway, shy, wild, Adj, lest, in order to avoid, Int, forbear!, keep off, hands off!, sauve qui peut!, every man for himself!, devil take the hindmost!, things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.

Fear

VB fear, stand in awe of, be afraid, have qualms, apprehend, sit upon thorns, eye askance, distrust, hesitate, falter, funk, cower, crouch, skulk, let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would' take fright, take alarm, start, wince, flinch, shy, shrink, fly, tremble, shake, shiver, shiver in one's shoes, shudder, flutter, shake like an aspen leaf, tremble like an aspen leaf, tremble all over, quake, quaver, quiver, quail, grow pale, turn pale, blench, stand aghast, not dare to say one's soul is one's own, inspire fear, excite fear, inspire awe, excite awe, raise apprehensions, be in a daze, bulldoze, faze, feeze, give an alarm, raise an alarm, sound an alarm, alarm, startle, scare, cry 'wolf', disquiet, dismay, fright, frighten, terrify, astound, fright from one's propriety, fright out of one's senses, fright out of one's wits, fright out of one's seven senses, awe, strike all of a heap, strike an awe into, strike terror, harrow up the soul, appall, unman, petrify, horrify, pile on the agony, make one's flesh creep, make one's hair stand on end, make one's blood run cold, make one's teeth chatter, take away one's breath, stop one's breath, make one tremble, haunt, prey on the mind, weigh on the mind, put in fear, put in bodily fear, terrorize, intimidate, cow, daunt, overawe, abash, deter, discourage, browbeat, bully, threaten.

Cowardice

VB quail, be cowardly, be a coward, funk, cower, skulk, sneak, flinch, shy, fight shy, slink, turn tail, run away, show, the white feather.

N cowardice, pusillanimity, cowardliness, timidity, effeminacy, poltroonery, baseness, dastardness, dastardy, abject fear, funk, Dutch courage, fear, white feather, faint heart, cold feet, yellow streak, coward, poltroon, dastard, sneak, recreant, shy cock, dunghill cock, coistril, milksop, white liver, lily liver, nidget, one that cannot say 'boo' to a goose, slink, Bob Acres, Jerry Sneak, alarmist, terrorist, pessimist, runagate, coward, cowardly, fearful, shy, timid, timorous, skittish, poor- spirited, spiritless, soft, effeminate, weak-minded, infirm of purpose, weak-hearted, fainthearted, chickenhearted, henhearted, lilyhearted, pigeon-hearted, white- livered, lily-livered, milk-livered, milksop, smock-faced, unable to say 'boo' to a goose, dastard, dastardly, base, craven, sneaking, dunghill, recreant, unwarlike, unsoldier-like, in face a lion but in heart a deer, unmanned, frightened, Int, sauve qui peut!, every man for himself!, devil take the hindmost!, ante tubam trepidat, one's courage oozing out, degeneres animos timor arguit.

Modesty

N modesty, humility, diffidence, timidity, retiring disposition, unobtrusiveness, bashfulness, mauvaise honte, blush, blushing, verecundity, self-knowledge, reserve, constraint, demureness, blushing honors, modest, diffident, humble, timid, timorous, bashful, shy, nervous, skittish, coy, sheepish, shamefaced, blushing, overmodest, unpretending, unpretentious, unobtrusive, unassuming, unostentatious, unboastful, unaspiring, poor in spirit, out of countenance, reserved, constrained, demure, humbly, quietly, privately, without ceremony, without beat of drum, sans fa, not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty, thy modesty's a candle to thy merit.

Deviation

VB alter one's course, deviate, depart from, turn, trend, bend, curve, swerve, heel, bear off, gybe, wear, intervert, deflect, divert, divert from its course, put on a new scent, shift, shunt, draw aside, crook, warp, stray, straggle, sidle, diverge, tralineate, digress, wander, wind, twist, meander, veer, tack, divagate, sidetrack, turn aside, turn a corner, turn away from, wheel, steer clear of, ramble, rove, drift, go astray, go adrift, yaw, dodge, step aside, ease off, make way for, shy, fly off at a tangent, glance off, wheel about, face about, turn to the right about, face to the right about, waddle, go out of one's way, lose one's way.

Regression

VB recede, regrade, return, revert, retreat, retire, retrograde, retrocede, back out, back down, balk, crawfish, crawl, withdraw, rebound, go back, come back, turn back, hark back, draw back, fall back, get back, put back, run back, lose ground, fall astern, drop astern, backwater, put about, backtrack, take the back track, veer round, double, wheel, countermarch, ebb, regurgitate, jib, shrink, shy, turn tail, turn round, turn upon one's heel, turn one's back upon, retrace one's steps, dance the back step, sound a retreat, beat a retreat, go home.

Propulsion

N propulsion, projection, propelment, vis a tergo, force from behind, push, shove, ejaculate, ejection, throw, fling, toss, shot, discharge, shy, launch, release, projectiles, ballistics, archery, propeller, screw, twin screws, turbine, jet engine, missile, projectile, ball, discus, quoit, brickbat, shot, arrow, gun, ballista, countdown, windup, shooter, shot, archer, toxophilite, bowman, rifleman, marksman, good shot, crack shot, sharpshooter, propelled, propelling, propulsive, projectile.

VB propel, project, throw, fling, cast, pitch, chuck, toss, jerk, heave, shy, hurl, flirt, fillip, dart, lance, tilt, ejaculate, jaculate, fulminate, bolt, drive, sling, pitchfork, send, send off, let off, fire off, discharge, shoot, launch, release, send forth, let fly, put in orbit, send into orbit, launch into orbit dash, put in motion, set in motion, set agoing, start, give a start, give an impulse to, impel, trundle, expel, carry one off one's legs, put to flight.