Shying

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Moving quickly away from something because of fear or nervousness
2. Reacting with a sudden jump or retreat caused by being startled or uneasy
3. Pulling back abruptly in response to discomfort or fright

Etymology: "Shying" is simply the present participle and gerund of "shy" with the suffix "-ing" added. The verb "shy" comes from Middle English "shy", and its sense of recoiling or swerving away from something alarming is what the form carries into modern use: a horse shying at a sudden noise, or a person shying away from a difficult subject. The adjective "shy" and the verb grew from the same Middle English root, so the verb's sense of drawing back is closely tied to the timid quality the adjective describes. The "-ing" ending adds nothing new to the meaning; it simply turns the action into a continuing or ongoing one.

Synonyms: flinching, cowering, cringing

Antonyms: facing, confronting