Lexic.us

Definition of Dainty

1. Adjective. Affectedly dainty or refined.

2. Noun. Something considered choice to eat.

3. Adjective. Delicately beautiful. "An exquisite cameo"

4. Adjective. Especially pleasing to the taste. "A dainty dish to set before a kind"

5. Adjective. Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted. "So squeamish he would only touch the toilet handle with his elbow"

Definition of Dainty

1. n. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything.

2. a. Rare; valuable; costly.

Definition of Dainty

1. Noun. (obsolete) Esteem, honour. ¹

2. Noun. A delicacy. ¹

3. Noun. (Canada Prairies and northwestern Ontario) Fancy cookies, pastries, or squares served at a social event (usually plural). ¹

4. Adjective. (obsolete) Excellent; valuable, fine. ¹

5. Adjective. Delicately small and pretty. ¹

6. Adjective. Fastidious and fussy when eating. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Dainty

1. delicately pretty [adj -TIER, -TIEST] : DAINTILY [adv] / something delicious [n -TIES]

Medical Definition of Dainty

1. Origin: OE. Deinie, dainte, deintie, deyntee, OF. Deintie delicacy, orig, dignity, honor, fr. L. Dignitas, fr. Dignus worthy. See Deign, and cf. Dignity. 1. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything. "I ne told no deyntee of her love." (Chaucer) 2. 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) 3. A term of fondness. Synonym: Dainty, Delicacy. 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) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Dainty

daine dained daines daining daint daintier dainties daintiest daintified daintify

daintily daintiness daintinesses daintrel daintrels dainty (current term) daiquiri daiquiris dairies dairy

dairy cattle dairy cow dairy farm dairy farmer dairy farming dairy product dairy products dairygirl dairygirls dairying

Literary usage of Dainty

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Glossary; Or, Collection of Words, Phrases, Names, and Allusions to by Robert Nares, James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, Thomas Wright (1867)
"dainty, phr. To make dainty, to she, I'll swear, hath corns. ... He that would mount Го honour, must not male dainty to use The head of his mother, ..."

2. A Glossary: Or, Collection of Words, Phrases, Names, and Allusions to by Robert Nares, James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, Thomas Wright (1901)
"Kroin dainty beds of downe, to bed of strawe full From ÍH)w res of heavenly ... To make dainty, to Ah ha, my mistresses ! which of you all This is the true ..."

3. The Poets and Poetry of the West: With Biographical and Critical Notices by William Turner Coggeshall (1860)
"THE dainty bee 'mid waxen cells Of golden beauty ever dwells And dreams his life away ; His food a million flowers caught From out the sunlight, ..."

4. A Complete Word and Phrase Concordance to the Poems and Songs of Robert by J. B. Reid (1889)
"Ye royal Lasses dainty, A Dream. ¡4. I wat she is a dainty Chuckie! ... S. Now rosy May \ Ye'll find him ay a dainty chiel The Brigs of Ayr. c. ..."

5. Southey's Common-place Book by Robert Southey (1849)
"If again she lay it down, While you view her in a gown And how those her dainty limbs That close bodied garment trims, You would swear and swear again She ..."

Other Resources: