dainty
/ˈdeɪnti/ adjective, noun
Forms daintier daintiest dainties
- adjective Elegant; delicately small and pretty.
- adjective Fastidious and fussy, especially when eating.
- adjective (obsolete) Excellent; valuable, fine.
- noun A delicacy (choice or pleasing food).
- noun (Northwestern Ontario, Canadian Prairies, British Columbia, usually in the plural) A fancy cookie, pastry, or square, frequently homemade, served at a social event.
- noun (obsolete) Esteem, honour.
- noun (obsolete) An affectionate term of address.
Synonyms
neat petite delicacy goody kickshaw treat mincing niminy-piminy prim twee exquisite nice overnice prissy squeamish
Etymology
From Middle English deynte (as noun), from Old French deintié, from Latin dignitātem. Doublet of dignity.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything. [Obs.]
- noun That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy.
- adjective Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]
- adjective Delicious to the palate; toothsome.
Etymology [OE. deinie, dainte, deintie, deyntee, OF. deintié delicacy, orig., dignity, honor, fr. L. dignitas, fr. dignus worthy. See Deign, and cf. Dignity.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “dainty”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details