Dainty word meaning and definition

[noun] something considered choice to eat
[adjective] of delicate composition and artistry; "a dainty teacup"; "an exquisite cameo"
[adjective] excessively fastidious and easily disgusted; "too nice about his food to take to camp cooking"; "so squeamish he would only touch the toilet handle with his elbow"
[adjective] affectedly dainty or refined
[adjective] especially pleasing to the taste; "a dainty dish to set before a kind"; "a tasty morsel"

\Dain"ty\, n.; pl. {Dainties}. [OE. deinie, dainte, deintie, deyntee, OF. deinti['e] 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. [Obs.] 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. [Poetic] --B. Jonson. Syn: {Dainty}, {Delicacy}. Usage: 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.
\Dain"ty\, a. [Compar. {Daintier}; superl. {Daintiest}.] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.] Full many a deynt['e] horse had he in stable. --Chaucer. Note: Hence the proverb ``dainty maketh dearth,'' i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious. 2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome. Dainty bits Make rich the ribs. --Shak. 3. 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. I would be the girdle. About her dainty, dainty waist. --Tennyson. 4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; 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.

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