A History of Short Words

From the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

COY

Sat, 2 Mar '24
Not forward
Sun, 28 May '23
Affectedly shy
Tue, 11 Oct '22
Artfully evasive
Mon, 27 Dec '21
"You don't need to be ___, Roy" (rhyming Paul Simon lyric)
Sun, 5 Dec '21
Demure