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dainty

[ deyn-tee ]
/ ˈdeɪn ti /
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See synonyms for: dainty / daintier / dainties / daintily on Thesaurus.com
adjective, dain·ti·er, dain·ti·est.
of delicate beauty; exquisite: a dainty lace handkerchief.
pleasing to the taste and, often, temptingly served or delicate; delicious: dainty pastries.
of delicate discrimination or taste; particular: a dainty eater.
overly particular; finicky; fastidious.
noun, plural dain·ties.
something delicious to the taste; a delicacy.
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Origin of dainty

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun deinte, dainte, dente “worthiness, happiness, delicacy,” from Anglo-French deinte, Old French deint(i)e, from Latin dignitāt- (stem of dignitās ); the adjective is derivative of the noun; see dignity

synonym study for dainty

1. See delicate. 3. See particular.

OTHER WORDS FROM dainty

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to dainty

cute, elegant, ethereal, exquisite, graceful, lacy, neat, petite, tasteful, tasty, delicate, fussy, choice, darling, delicious, fair, frail, light, lovely, nice

How to use dainty in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dainty

dainty
/ (ˈdeɪntɪ) /
adjective -tier or -tiest
delicate or eleganta dainty teacup
pleasing to the taste; choice; deliciousa dainty morsel
refined, esp excessively genteel; fastidious
noun plural -ties
a choice piece of food, esp a small cake or sweet; delicacy

Derived forms of dainty

daintily, adverbdaintiness, noun

Word Origin for dainty

C13: from Old French deintié, from Latin dignitās dignity
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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