I. ˈdāntē, -ti noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English deinte worthiness, pleasure, delicacy, from Old French deintié, from Latin dignitat-, dignitas worthiness — more at dignity
1. : something delicious to the taste : delicacy
a London dainty — a pyramid of jelly — Virginia Woolf
the various dainties served at supper — E.H.Collis
2. : something that arouses favor or excites pleasure : something choice or pleasing
sloe-eyed dainties in satin skirts and magenta saris — P.C.Jain
3. obsolete : fastidiousness , fussiness
II. adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English deinte, from deinte, n.
1.
a. now dialect Britain : pleasant and agreeable : fine
a dainty lass
dainty weather
b. obsolete : uncommon , scarce
2.
a. : good-tasting : savory , palatable
dainty bits make rich the ribs — Shakespeare
b. : attractively prepared and prettily served to or as if to stimulate a jaded, finicky, or very slight appetite
the dainty crumpets at the tearoom
3. : marked by fragile tender beauty, nice or diminutive form, or quaint charm
a dainty Spanish sword — S.P.B.Mais
dainty teacups
4. obsolete : chary , sparing , loath , reluctant — used with of
let us not be dainty of leave-taking — Shakespeare
5.
a. : marked by or given to fastidious discrimination and choice or by finical taste : shunning anything crude or excessive : gently careful and particular
the hungry cannot be dainty — Mary W. Shelley
the spirit of romance, gross and tawdry in vulgar minds, dainty and refined in the more cultivated — V.L.Parrington
b. : showing unmanly avoidance of anything rough : overnice , squeamish , prissy
steps dainty as those of a French dancing master — George Meredith
gentry too dainty to risk blisters on their hands — G.W.Johnson
Synonyms: see choice , nice