What is rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.] Full many a deynté horse had he in stable. Chaucer. Note: Hence the proverb "dainty maketh dearth," i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious called?

dainty — Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.] Full many a deynté horse had he in stable. Chaucer. Note: Hence the proverb "dainty maketh dearth," i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious. (Webster's 1913.)