צָנַע (b. h.) to hide; to retire.—Part. pass. צָנוּעַ. Taan. 16ᵃ (commenting on the custom of bringing the chest containing the Torah scrolls to the open place of the town for fasts and prayers) לומר כלי צ׳ היה לנו וכ׳ as if saying, we had a vessel kept in reverential retirement, and it has been exposed on account of our sins.—V. צָנוּעַ.
Hif. - הִצְנִיעַ to withdraw (from use); to reserve, hide. Sabb. X, 1 המַצְנִיעַ לזרע וכ׳ if a person had laid aside something for seed, or for a sample, or for medicinal purposes, and takes it out into the street &c. Ib. 90ᵇ שהִצְנִיעוֹ ושכח וכ׳ if he had laid it aside, but forgot for what purpose &c. Ib. 91ᵃ כל … להַצְנִיעוֹ ואין מַצְנִיעִין וכ׳ a thing not fit for reservation, or of the kind not usually reserved, but this person considered it fit &c. Num. R. s. 1 מַצְנַעַת עצמה keeps herself in retirement (chastity). Num. R. s. 20 הִצְנִיעוּ עצמן contained themselves (remained chaste); a. e.—Part. pass. מוּצְנָע; f. מוּצְנַעַת &c. Ter. VIII, 8 מקום המ׳ a retired (well-guarded and clean) place; Bekh. 33ᵇ, a. e.—Gen. R. s. 94; Cant. R. to I, 12 (ref. to Ex. XXXV, 24) מלמד שהיו מ׳ וכ׳ this shows that acacia wood was kept by them in reserve from the days of Jacob; a. e.—Gen. R. s. 1 (ref. to אמון, Prov. VIII, 30) אמון מוצנע amon (= amun) means well cared for (by ref. to אֹמֵן, Esth. II, 7).
Pi. - צִינֵּעַ to restrain. Y. Bets. V, 63ᵃ מי הוא זה שבא לצַנְּעֵינוּ וכ׳ who is he that comes to put us under restrictions in our own house?