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coyness

Noun
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Coyness refers to a quality of being shy or modest, often in a playful or flirtatious manner.

Detailed Definition
In the context of the poem, 'coyness' describes a woman's playful reluctance to engage in romantic advances. This term is often associated with a teasing demeanor, where the individual may appear demure or reserved while actually inviting attention. Marvell uses this concept to explore themes of love and desire, suggesting that such coyness would not be an issue if time were abundant.
Example
Example in poetry:
“This coyness, lady, were no crime” (Andrew Marvell) treats reserve as an obstacle to carpe diem desire; “Her coyness kept the question unopened” uses the noun for deliberate reticence; Marvell imagines endless time in which coyness would be harmless; The abstract noun lets poets examine social performance, flirtation, and power
Additional Notes
The word 'coyness' may be unfamiliar as it is less commonly used in modern language, particularly in the context of romantic or flirtatious behavior.; Found in the poem, To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell
Also Known As
shyness reserve timidity
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