coy /kɔɪ/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[koi] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, -er, -est, verb

–adjective 1. artfully or affectedly shy or reserved; slyly hesitant; coquettish.

2. shy; modest.

3. showing reluctance, esp. when insincere or affected, to reveal one’s plans or opinions, make a commitment, or take a stand: The mayor was coy about his future political aspirations.

4. Archaic. disdainful; aloof.

5. Obsolete. quiet; reserved.

–verb (used without object) 6. Archaic. to act in a coy manner.

–verb (used with object) Obsolete. 7. to quiet; soothe.

8. to pat; caress.

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[Origin: 1300–50; ME < AF coi, quoy calm, OF quei < VL *quétus, for L quiétus quiet] —Related forms coyish, adjective coy·ish·ness, noun coyly, adverb coyness, noun —Synonyms 2. retiring, diffident, bashful, demure. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This coy (koi) Pronunciation Key adj. coy·er, coy·est Tending to avoid people and social situations; reserved. Affectedly and usually flirtatiously shy or modest. See Synonyms at shy1. Annoyingly unwilling to make a commitment. [Middle English, from Old French quei, coi, quiet, still, from Vulgar Latin *quētus, from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere, to rest; see kweiə- in Indo-European roots.] coy'ly adv., coy'ness n. (Download Now or Buy the Book) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This coy c.1330, from O.Fr. coi, earlier quei "quiet, still," ult. from L. quietus "resting, at rest" (see quiet). Meaning "shy" emerged 14c. Meaning "unwilling to commit" is 1961. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This coy adjective 1. affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way 2. showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement; "a politician coy about his intentions" 3. modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures; "like a wild young colt, very inquisitive but very coy and not to be easily cajoled" WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This coy [koi] adjective (pretending to be) shy Example: She gave her brother's friend a coy smile. Make it short and sweet To His shy mistress!

Take Time by the Scruff of its Neck

Unborn Tomorrow, Dead Yesterday. why worry about them, if Today be Sweet?

Time and Tide wait for no Man.

A sample essay on this poem can be seen here:

http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/Virtualit/poetry/mistress_elements/mistress_essay.pdf

— a famous and important part of the poem

forbidden satisfaction????