| 释义 |
coyness|ˈkɔɪnɪs|
[f. coy a. + -ness.]
The quality of being coy; display of shy reserve or unwillingness; an instance of this.
1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 52 The manner of Ladies to salute Gentlemen with coynesse. 1611Beaum. & Fl. Maid's Trag. ii. i, This is but the coyness of a bride. 1614Stirling Doomesday 6th Ho. (R.), I scorne men's coynesse, women's stoutnesse hate. 1754Richardson Grandison III. xxiii. 232 Some of us women act as if we thought coyness and modesty the same thing. 1814Mrs. West Alicia De Lacy II. 280 Nor did Matilda affect those doubts and coynesses to which her heart was a stranger. 1853Merivale Rom. Rep. iii. (1867) 71 Rome..was wont to dispense the favour of her franchise with affected coyness. 1883S. C. Hall Retrospect II. 313 The cause of her coyness was..obvious—she had on neither shoes nor stockings.
b. Said of animals.
1575Turberv. Falconrie 137 You shall hardly reclayme hir [a hawk] from her coynesse. 1615Latham Falconry (1633) 10. 1653 Walton Angler 167 Then she [a carp] putting on a seeming coyness, they force her through weeds and flags. |