shy

Definitions

1. adjective

   Easily frightened; timid.

   Example

   • The horses of the army, and those of the royal stables, having been daily led before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting.
   ≠bold≠brave≠confident≠courageous≠adventurous +2 more
2. adjective

   Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.

   Examples

   • He is very shy with strangers.
   • VVhat makes you ſo ſhy of late, my good Friend? There's no Body loves you better than I, nor has taken more Pains in your Affairs: […]
   ≠audacious≠bold≠cheeky≠brazen≠gregarious +4 more
3. adjective

   Cautious; wary; suspicious.

   Examples

   • We grant, although he had much wit, / H' was very shy of using it; / As being loth to wear it out, / And therefore bore it not about,
   • Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of their successors.
4. adjective

   Short, insufficient or less than.

   Examples

   • By our count your shipment came up two shy of the bill of lading amount.
   • It is just shy of a mile from here to their house.
5. adjective

   Less likely to reveal whom they will vote for than average, chiefly in the context of the collective effect this has on polling accuracy.

   Example

   • Pollsters need to remember the shy Tory factor.
6. verb

   To avoid due to caution, embarrassment or timidness.

   Example

   • Courts might tend to shy from limiting Congress under such a vague standard.
   ≈shy away
7. verb

   To jump back in fear.

   Example

   • The horse shied at the unexpected approach of a motor vehicle.
   ≈start≈startle
8. verb

   To throw sideways with a jerk; to fling.

   Examples

   • to shy a stone
   • shy a slipper
   ≈bowl≈bung≈cast≈chuck≈chunk +35 more
9. verb

   To throw a ball with two hands above the head, especially when it has crossed the side lines in a football (soccer) match.

10. verb

    To hit the ball back into play from the sidelines in a shinty match.