dainty
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1dain·ty
noun \ˈdān-tē\ plural dain·ties
Definition of DAINTY
1
a : something delicious to the taste b : something choice or pleasing
2
obsolete : fastidiousness
See Examples of DAINTY
- <the widow plied her suitor with dainties and endless glasses of sherry>
Origin of DAINTY
Middle English deinte high esteem, delight, from Anglo-French deinté, from Latin dignitat-, dignitas dignity, worth
First Known Use: 14th century
2dainty
adjectivedain·ti·erdain·ti·est
Definition of DAINTY
1
a : tasting good : tasty b : attractively prepared and served
2
: marked by delicate or diminutive beauty, form, or grace <dainty teacups>
4
a : marked by fastidious discrimination or finicky taste b : showing avoidance of anything rough
— dain·ti·ly \ˈdān-tə-lē\ adverb
— dain·ti·ness \ˈdān-tē-nəs\ noun
Examples of DAINTY
- Her hair was decorated with dainty pink flowers.
- the girl's dainty little hands
- The dancers' dainty steps were followed by a series of leaps.
- She took a dainty sip of tea from her teacup.
- They served dainty sandwiches on silver trays.
- The food was served in dainty portions.
First Known Use of DAINTY
14th century
Related to DAINTY
- Synonyms
- choosy (or choosey), finicky, delicate, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicking, fussbudgety, fussy, nice, old-maidish, particular, pernickety [chiefly British], persnickety, picky
- Antonyms
- undemanding, unfastidious, unfussy
See Synonym Discussion at choice
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