Dainty

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 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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  • dainty — [dān′tē] n. pl. dainties [ME deinte, excellent, fine, orig., feeling of esteem < Anglo Fr deinté < OFr deinté < L dignitas, worth, DIGNITY] a choice food; delicacy adj. daintier, daintiest 1. delicious and choice [a dainty morsel] 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • Dainty — Dain ty, n.; pl. {Dainties}. [OE. deinie, dainte, deintie, deyntee, OF. deinti[ e] delicacy, orig., dignity, honor, fr. L. dignitas, fr. dignus worthy. See {Deign}, and cf. {Dignity}.] 1. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dainty — [adj1] delicate, fragile, fine airy, attractive, beautiful, bonny, charming, choice, comely, cute, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, diaphanous, elegant, ethereal, exquisite, fair, feeble, frail, graceful, lacy, light, lovely, neat,… …   New thesaurus

  • dainty — 1 delicate, exquisite, *choice, elegant, recherché, rare Analogous words: petite, diminutive, little, *small: pretty, bonny, fair, lovely, *beautiful: *delightful, delectable, delicious Antonyms: gross Contrasted words: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • dainty — ► ADJECTIVE (daintier, daintiest) 1) delicately small and pretty. 2) fastidious and fussy when eating. ► NOUN (pl. dainties) ▪ a small appetizing item of food. DERIVATIVES daintily …   English terms dictionary

  • dainty — UK [ˈdeɪntɪ] / US adjective Word forms dainty : adjective dainty comparative daintier superlative daintiest 1) small and attractive in a delicate way dainty china cups 2) a dainty movement or action is small and graceful Mary took dainty bites… …   English dictionary

  • dainty — dain|ty1 [ˈdeınti] adj comparative daintier superlative daintiest 1.) small, pretty, and delicate ▪ a dainty gold chain ▪ a child with dainty features 2.) moving or done in a careful way, using small movements ▪ a dainty walk >daintily adv …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • dainty — {{11}}dainty (adj.) c.1300, delightful, pleasing, from DAINTY (Cf. dainty) (n.). Meaning evolved in Middle English to choice, excellent (late 14c.) to delicately pretty. {{12}}dainty (n.) c.1300, excellence, elegance; a luxury, from O.Fr. deintie …   Etymology dictionary

  • dainty — daintily, adv. daintiness, n. /dayn tee/, adj., daintier, daintiest, n., pl. dainties. adj. 1. of delicate beauty; exquisite: a dainty lace handkerchief. 2. pleasing to the taste and, often, temptingly served or delicate; delicious: dainty… …   Universalium

  • dainty — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. delicate, exquisite; fastidious, neat; delicious. See beauty, taste, care, food. II (Roget s IV) modif. 1. [Notable for fineness or fragility] Syn. delicate, fragile, petite, frail, thin, light,… …   English dictionary for students

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