v. Obs.; also 4–5 acoy(e, acoie, 6–7 accoy(e. [a. OFr. acoie-r, acoye-r to calm, appease, f. à to + coi quiet, calm:—L. quiēt-um QUIET.] To still, calm, quiet or appease; hence, to soothe or coax (the alarmed or shy), to tame, silence or daunt (the forward or bold).
c. 1350. Wmn. of Palerne, 56. Þe cherl … chastised his dogge, bad him blinne of his berking, & to þe barne talked, acoyed it to come to him, & clepud hit oft.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 782. He nyst how best hire herte for t’ acoie.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3564. Bialacoil, his most joye, Which alle hise peynes myght acoye.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xiv. Brother a whyle do acoye The cruel tourment that byndeth you so sore.
1530. Palsgr., 416. I acoye, I styll, Je apaise, or je rens quoy: Be he never so angrye, I can accoye hym: tout soyt il courroncé, je le puis apayser or accoyser.
1557. Tottell’s Misc. (Arb.), 197. Transmuted thus sometime a swan is he, Leda taccoye, and eft Europe to please.
1567. Turberville, Louer abused. A loving wight For to accoy, accoy, And breede my joy.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Feb. Then is your careless courage accoyed. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., IV. viii. 59. I received was, And oft imbrast … And with kind words accoyd.
1598. B. Yong, trans. Diana. That sweete gracious smile,… wherewith I sawe thee not accoyd.
a. 1600. Peele, Eclogue, III. 152. How soon may here thy courage be accoy’d?
1647. H. More, Poems, 76. The voice these solemn sages nought at all accoyes.
1706. Phillips, To Accoy (old word): To assuage.
