Dain"ty (?), n.; pl.
Dainties (#). [OE. deinie, dainte,
deintie, deyntee, OF. deintié 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. 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 deynté horse had he in
stable.
Chaucer.
&fist; 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.
