Where does “coyish” come from?
coyish (English) comes from English coy, from Middle English coy, from Old French coi, from Old French quei, from Latin quiētus, from Latin quiēscō, from Latin quiēs, from Proto-Italic kʷiētis — to rest; rest, peace.
coyish (English): Somewhat coy
Definitions
- Somewhat coy
Ancestry of “coyish”, step by step
coyish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English coy
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | coy | Bashful, shy, retiring; Quiet, reserved, modest;... |
| 2 | Middle English | coy | — |
| 3 | Old French | coi | — |
| 4 | Old French | quei | quiet, still |
| 5 | Latin | quiētus | at rest/nap, quiet, keeping quiet, quietude, quietness |
| 6 | Latin | quiēscō | to rest, sleep, repose |
| 7 | Latin | quiēs | the rest of sleep, repose |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | kʷiētis | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷyéh₁tis | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷyeh₁- | to rest; rest, peace |
via English ish
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ish | Pronunciation spelling of is; somewhat,... |
| 2 | English | -ish | Typical of, similar to, being like; Somewhat,... |
| 3 | Middle English | -ish | Alternative form of -yssh |
| 4 | Old English | -isċ | -ish |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | -isk | Creates adjectives from nouns |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | -iskaz | Forms adjectives from nouns with the sense of... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -iskos | Characteristic of, typical of, pertaining to |