dainty

Definitions

1. 1.That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy. That precious nectar may the taste renew Of Eden's dainties, by our parents lost. Beau. & Fl.
2. 2.A term of fondness. [Poetic] B. Jonson. These words are here compared as denoting articles of food. The term delicacy as applied to a nice article of any kind, and hence to articles of food which are particularly attractive. Dainty is stronger, and denotes some exquisite article of cookery. A hotel may be provided with all the delicacies of the season, and its table richly covered with dainties. These delicacies I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, Walks and the melody of birds. Milton. [A table] furnished plenteously with bread, And dainties, remnants of the last regale. Cowper.
3. 3.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.
4. 4.Delicious to the palate; toothsome. Dainty bits Make rich the ribs. Shak.
5. 5.Nice; delicate;elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender. Those dainty limbs which nature lent For gentle usage and soft delicacy. Milton. Iwould be the girdle. About her dainty, dainty waist. Tennyson.
6. 6.Requirinig daintles. Hence; Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; sqrupulous; ceremonious. Thew were a fine and Dainty people. Bacon. And let us not be dainty of leave taking, But shift away. Shak. To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [Obs.] Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all Will now deny to dance She that makes dainty, She, I'll swear, hath corns. Shak.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

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Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is dainty.

• What is that which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy. That precious nectar may the taste renew Of Eden's dainties, by our parents lost. Beau. & Fl called?
• 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?
• What is delicious to the palate; toothsome. Dainty bits Make rich the ribs. Shak called?