Dainty
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈdeɪnti/
- Rhymes: -eɪnti
Origin
From Old French deintié, from Latin dignitÄtem.
Full definition of dainty
Noun
dainty
(plural dainties)- (obsolete) Esteem, honour.
- A delicacy.
- 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe...my case was deplorable enough, yet I had great cause for thankfulness that I was not driven to any extremities for food, but had rather plenty, even to dainties.
- William Cowpertable furnished plenteously with bread,
And dainties, remnants of the last regale. - (Canada, Prairies and northwestern Ontario) A fancy cookie, pastry, or square served at a social event (usually plural).
- (obsolete) An affectionate term of address.
Adjective
dainty
- (obsolete) Excellent; valuable, fine.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.13:Heliogabalus the most dissolute man of the world, amidst his most riotous sensualities, intended, whensoever occasion should force him to it, to have a daintie death.
- Elegant; delicately small and pretty.
- MiltonThose dainty limbs which nature lent
For gentle usage and soft delicacy. - 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 1, However, with the dainty volume my quondam friend sprang into fame. At the same time he cast off the chrysalis of a commonplace existence.
- Fastidious and fussy, especially when eating.
- Francis BaconThey were a fine and dainty people.
- ShakespeareAnd let us not be dainty of leave taking,
But shift away.