Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • See shyly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb See shyly.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb Archaic form of shyly.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • "By all means," said Hamilton, perhaps a little shily; but it was promise enough to call forth Louis 'heartfelt thanks.

    Louis' School Days A Story for Boys

  • Rose answers shily, in short sentences, and we walk about in the garden.

    The Choice of Life Georgette Leblanc 1905

  • Being now authorised to admonish her at all times with regard to her gestures, her voice and her accent, I often make her repeat the same sentence; and, when I at last hear her natural voice, her original sweet and attractive voice, to which the music is beginning to return, shily and timidly, my heart overflows with joy.

    The Choice of Life Georgette Leblanc 1905

  • Occasionally some of the farm-wives called to her shily.

    Sally of Missouri 1905

  • One little "Dot" of a girl came shily behind Franky, whom she had long been watching, and threw her half-bun at his side, and then ran away and hid herself, in very shame at the boldness of her own sweet impulse.

    The Grey Woman and other Tales Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell 1837

  • They had looked shily upon the bride because she was black (ch.i. 6); but now they admire her, and speak of her with great respect: Who is this?

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721

Comments

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  • (adv): 1. timidly, bashfully, diffidently, coyly; 2. watchfully, distrustfully, suspiciously, warily.

    January 18, 2009