scheu

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 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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃɔʏ̯/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔɪ̯

Adjective

scheu (comparative scheuer, superlative am scheusten)

1. shy (reserved)

   Synonyms: zurückhaltend, schüchtern

2. shy, skittish, startlish (easily frightened)

   Synonym: schreckhaft

Usage notes

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

Derived terms

• wasserscheu
• kamerascheu

See also

• schüchtern
• zaghaft
• zurückhaltend

Further reading

• scheu in Duden online

---

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English hēo.

Pronoun

scheu

1. Alternative form of sche

Etymology 2

From Old French escu.

Noun

scheu

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