Both Uses
coy
in
Listening for Lions
(Auto-generated)
- Its ears were twitching, and it gazed at me coyly from under its forelock.†
Book 3
- He gave me a rather coy smile and added, "It would give me so much pleasure to have you here in Stagsway."
Book 3 *coy = subtly playful
Definitions:
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(1)
(coy) playfully shy or subtly flirtatious; and/or, deliberately evasive to avoid giving information or making a commitmentWriters often use coy when someone acts shy or innocent in a playful way, while being aware of the effect—like giving a coy smile.
The word can also describe being deliberately evasive or withholding information, as in a coy answer that dodges the real question or a coy response that modestly downplays an accomplishment.
In many cases, the person is both playful and withholding at once, as when teasing someone with coy hints about a surprise without revealing what it is. - (2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)