COYNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does coyness mean? 

• COYNESS (noun)
  The noun COYNESS has 1 sense:

1. the affectation of being demure in a provocative way

  Familiarity information: COYNESS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COYNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The affectation of being demure in a provocative way

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

coyness; demureness

Hypernyms ("coyness" is a kind of...):

affectedness (the quality of being false or artificial (as to impress others))

Derivation:

coy (showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement)

coy (affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way)

 Context examples 

On the instant, the she- wolf's coyness and playfulness disappeared.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I saw her, a most beautiful little creature, with the cloudless blue eyes, that had looked into my childish heart, turned laughingly upon another child of Minnie's who was playing near her; with enough of wilfulness in her bright face to justify what I had heard; with much of the old capricious coyness lurking in it; but with nothing in her pretty looks, I am sure, but what was meant for goodness and for happiness, and what was on a good and happy course.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)