shy
/ʃaɪ/ adjective A1- Easily frightened; timid.
- Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach. · He is very shy with strangers.
- Cautious; wary; suspicious.
- Short, insufficient or less than. · By our count your shipment came up two shy of the bill of lading amount.· It is just shy of a mile from here to their house.
Comparative shier · Superlative shiest
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here?
For the first time shy, quiet Matthew Cuthbert was a person of central importance; the white majesty of death had fallen on him and set him apart as one crowned.
“I’m shy on one word, lady.
Since her being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy.
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