The Only Use of
coy
in
A Midsummer Night's Dream
- TITANIA Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy, And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head, And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.†
Scene 4.1
Definition:
playfully shy or subtly playful to seem inviting -- often pretending to be shy, innocent, or unaware
and/or:
deliberately indirect or withholding -- especially to avoid giving information or committing to something
and/or:
deliberately indirect or withholding -- especially to avoid giving information or committing to something
Authors often use "coy" to describe behavior that is both playful and withholding. Sometimes it's teasing and inviting, other times it’s meant to avoid a direct answer—or both at once.