What does shied mean?
The form given here is chiefly the past tense and past participle of the adjective and verb shy, but it also has a vivid independent use. A horse or other animal may suddenly turn aside, stop, or refuse to move forward because it has been startled. The expression can also describe people withdrawing from a person, task, situation, or risk: an investor might shy away from volatile markets, while a candidate might be shy about accepting a difficult appointment. Its implication is often stronger and more visible than ordinary hesitation: the subject reacts suddenly or conspicuously and keeps clear of what frightens or disquiets it. Although the word is no longer extremely common in everyday general prose, it remains familiar in descriptions of animal behavior and in figurative language about avoidance, caution, and apprehension.
To move suddenly aside, recoil, or refuse to proceed, especially because of fear or alarm.
"The startled horse shied and threw the rider off balance."
This use is especially associated with horses and other animals, but can also be used figuratively for people.
To avoid, dodge, or express reluctance to do or face something.
"The company shied away from expanding during the recession."
Common in figurative combinations such as "shy away from" and "shy at."
A single letter turns the general idea of timidity into a vivid picture: a horse suddenly throwing its head aside and refusing to move forward.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of shied
The family comes from the English adjective and verb shy, with the form given here representing its regular past tense and past participle. The ultimate origin of shy is not securely established, and proposed connections with unrelated words should be treated cautiously. The independent animal sense developed naturally from the older idea of turning aside or shrinking back because of fear.
Related word forms
How shied is actually used
The independent sense is especially associated with horses and other animals, but it can also be used figuratively for people. As the past form of shy, it commonly appears in phrases such as "shied away from" or "shied at something."
Easily confused with shied
Shy is the base verb and adjective, while the form given here is its past tense and past participle; it is also used independently for an animal moving suddenly aside.