[f. COY a. + -LY2.]
† 1. Quietly. Obs.
c. 1475. Partenay, 2184. Ful coyly and preualy within entring.
2. In a coy manner, with display of shy reserve.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 86. Coyly or sobyrly, modeste.
1592. Greene, Def. Conny-catch. (1859), 45. He very coyly badde them all welcome to his fathers house.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Love suffers no Parasol (R.). Then while ye coyley stand To hide me from those eyes.
1714. Gay, Trivia, I. 261. At first she coyly ev’ry kiss withstood.
1839. W. Irving, Wolfert’s Roost (1855), 271. The damsel hung her head coyly.
1842. H. Rogers, Introd. Burke’s Wks. (1842), I. 41. Beautiful imagery … long sought and coyly won.
† 3. Distantly, disdainfully, haughtily. Obs.
1673. Lady’s Calling, I. § 4 ¶ 2. Putting on a supercilious gravity, looking coily and disdainfully upon all about them.
