DAINTY

dainty. Dainty, a. delicate, curious, nice, squeamish

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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. 1. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything.
I ne told no deyntee of her love. Chaucer. 2. 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. 3. A term of fondness. 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. furnished plenteously with bread, And dainties, remnants of the last regale. Cowper.