scheu

From Middle High German schiech, schiehe, schie, schiuch, schiuhe, schūche, from Old High German, from Proto-Germanic *skeuhaz. The modern form goes back to the Central German forms with -iu-, -ū-. These are usually interpreted as alterations based on Scheu (noun) and scheuen (verb), though this does not seem unqestionable in view of Middle Dutch schu, Middle Low German schǖ. The form with -ie- remains in dialectal Upper German schiech (“ugly”). Cognate with Dutch schuw, English shy.

• IPA^(key): /ʃɔʏ̯/

• Audio

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• Rhymes: -ɔɪ̯

scheu (comparative scheuer, superlative am scheusten)

1. shy (reserved)

   Synonyms: zurückhaltend, schüchtern

2. shy, skittish, startlish (easily frightened)

   Synonym: schreckhaft

• Compare schüchtern for notes on the distinction between these semantically similar words.

• wasserscheu
• kamerascheu

• schüchtern
• zaghaft
• zurückhaltend

• scheu in Duden online

From Old English hēo.

scheu

1. Alternative form of sche

From Old French escu.

scheu

1. Alternative form of skew (“gable stone”)