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shy¹

(shī)

adj. shi·er (shīər), shi·est (shīĭst) or shy·er or shy·est

1. Easily startled; timid: a shy deer.

a. Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved: a shy student who stayed in the back of the room.

b. Characterized by reserve or diffidence: a shy glance.

3. Distrustful; wary: shy of strangers.

4. Not having a sufficient or specified amount, as of money: was shy $100 on his rent; was two victories shy of the school record.

intr.v. shied (shīd), shy·ing, shies (shīz)

1. To move suddenly or draw back, as if startled or afraid: The horse shied at the loud sound.

2. To avoid engaging in, treating, or discussing something: "a film adaptation that would not shy away from the novel's controversial themes" (Scot French).

n. pl. shies (shīz)

A sudden movement, as from fright; a start.

[Middle English schey, from Old English scēoh.]

shyer n.

shyly adv.

shyness n.

shy²

(shī)

v. shied (shīd), shy·ing, shies (shīz)

v.tr.

To throw (something) with a swift motion; fling.

v.intr.

To throw something with a swift motion.

n. pl. shies (shīz)

1. A quick throw; a fling.

2. Informal A gibe; a sneer.

3. Informal An attempt; a try.

[Perhaps from SHY¹.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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