Coyest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exuding an air of playful modesty or shyness while simultaneously engaging in flirtation or evasiveness indicates a reluctance to be forthright
2. Possessing a charm that combines bashfulness with a subtle, teasing quality where openness is avoided in a delightful manner
3. Showing a reserved or shy demeanor that hints at teasing without full disclosure

Etymology: "Coyest" is the superlative of "coy", so it inherits the whole history of its base word. "Coy" descends from Old French "quei" (or "coi"), meaning "quiet" or "still", which in turn came from Latin "quietus", "at rest". That is a long way from the modern sense of flirtatious shyness: the idea was of something held back, kept still and unobtrusive. The word's older English uses leaned toward plain reserve or even aloofness, and the teasing sense developed from that notion of deliberate restraint. Someone who holds back, neither refusing nor fully yielding, keeps the other person curious. "Coyest" therefore names the most elaborately withholding version of that quality. A related word, "decoy", shares the same French root, so a coy person and a decoy both draw someone in by staying out of easy reach.

Synonyms: shy, bashful, demure, retiring, modest

Antonyms: bold, outgoing, confident, brash, assertive