Daintier

Daintier
Dainty Dain"ty, a. [Compar. {Daintier}; superl. {Daintiest}.] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Full many a deynt['e] horse had he in stable. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Note: Hence the proverb ``dainty maketh dearth,'' i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious. [1913 Webster]

2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome. [1913 Webster]

Dainty bits Make rich the ribs. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Nice; delicate; elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender. [1913 Webster]

Those dainty limbs which nature lent For gentle usage and soft delicacy. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

I would be the girdle. About her dainty, dainty waist. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; ceremonious. [1913 Webster]

Thew were a fine and dainty people. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{To make dainty}, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty, She, I'll swear, hath corns. --Shak. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Daintier — Recorded in the spellings of Daintier, Dainter, Daintith, Daunter, Daynter and Danter, this unusual surname has confusing origins. It is probably early French but may be English. If French it may derive from the word digne meaning worthy, which… …   Surnames reference

  • daintier — dain·ty || deɪntɪ adj. tasty, delicious; delicate, exquisite; finicky, fussy n. delicacy, something pleasing to the eye or the palate …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Dainter — Recorded in the spellings of Daintier, Dainter, Daintith, Daunter, Daynter and Danter, this unusual surname has confusing origins. It is probably early French but may be English. If French it may derive from the word digne meaning worthy, which… …   Surnames reference

  • Danter — Recorded in the spellings of Daintier, Dainter, Daintith, Daunter, Daynter and Danter, this unusual surname has confusing origins. It is probably early French but may be English. If French it may derive from the word digne meaning worthy, which… …   Surnames reference

  • Daunter — Recorded in the spellings of Daintier, Dainter, Daintith, Daunter, Daynter and Danter, this unusual surname has confusing origins. It is probably early French but may be English. If French it may derive from the word digne meaning worthy, which… …   Surnames reference

  • Daintiest — Dainty Dain ty, a. [Compar. {Daintier}; superl. {Daintiest}.] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Full many a deynt[ e] horse had he in stable. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Note: Hence the proverb dainty maketh dearth, i. e., rarity makes …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Daintrel — Dain trel, n. [From daint or dainty; cf. OF. daintier.] Adelicacy. [Obs.] Halliwell. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dainty — Dain ty, a. [Compar. {Daintier}; superl. {Daintiest}.] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Full many a deynt[ e] horse had he in stable. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Note: Hence the proverb dainty maketh dearth, i. e., rarity makes a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To make dainty — Dainty Dain ty, a. [Compar. {Daintier}; superl. {Daintiest}.] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Full many a deynt[ e] horse had he in stable. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Note: Hence the proverb dainty maketh dearth, i. e., rarity makes …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dainty — I. noun (plural dainties) Etymology: Middle English deinte high esteem, delight, from Anglo French deinté, from Latin dignitat , dignitas dignity, worth Date: 14th century 1. a. something delicious to the taste b. something choice or pleasing 2.… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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