scheu
German
Etymology
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 unquestionable 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.
Pronunciation
Adjective
scheu (comparative scheuer, superlative am scheusten)
- shy (reserved)
- Synonyms: zurückhaltend, schüchtern
- shy, skittish, startlish (easily frightened)
- Synonym: schreckhaft
Usage notes
- Compare schüchtern for notes on the distinction between these semantically similar words.
Derived terms
See also
Further reading
- “scheu” in Duden online
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old English hēo.
Pronoun
scheu
- Alternative form of sche
Etymology 2
From Old French escu.
Noun
scheu
- Alternative form of skew (“gable stone”)
Categories:
- German terms inherited from Middle High German
- German terms derived from Middle High German
- German terms inherited from Old High German
- German terms derived from Old High German
- German terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- German terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- German 1-syllable words
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German terms with audio links
- Rhymes:German/ɔɪ̯
- German lemmas
- German adjectives
- Middle English terms inherited from Old English
- Middle English terms derived from Old English
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English pronouns
- Middle English terms borrowed from Old French
- Middle English terms derived from Old French
- Middle English nouns