dainty

[deyn-tee]

adjective

daintier, daintiest 

1. of delicate beauty; exquisite.

   a dainty lace handkerchief.

   Synonyms: fine

2. pleasing to the taste and, often, temptingly served or delicate; delicious.

   dainty pastries.

   Synonyms: scrumptious, mouth-watering, delectable, tender

3. of delicate discrimination or taste; particular.

   a dainty eater.

4. overly particular; finicky; fastidious.

   Synonyms: overnice

noun

plural

dainties 

1. something delicious to the taste; a delicacy.

   Synonyms: tidbit

dainty

/ ˈdeɪntɪ /

adjective

1. delicate or elegant

   a dainty teacup

2. pleasing to the taste; choice; delicious

   a dainty morsel

3. refined, esp excessively genteel; fastidious

noun

1. a choice piece of food, esp a small cake or sweet; delicacy

Other Word Forms

• daintily adverb
• daintiness noun
• overdaintiness noun
• overdainty adjective
• superdainty adjective
• undaintiness noun
• undainty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dainty¹

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; dignity

Word History and Origins

Origin of dainty¹

C13: from Old French deintié, from Latin dignitās _dignity

Synonym Study

See delicate. See particular.

Example Sentences

Inside, dainty horse figurines painted in pastels peek out from nooks and crannies.

From Los Angeles Times

“It's unbecoming . . . the way a man's lip purses. The size of the straw is too dainty.”

From Salon

Tofu has some real bulk, too — it's not a flimsy, dainty thing.

From Salon

To some, they conjure ideas of haute cuisine fuss — dainty smears, baby food textures, or unnecessary embellishment.

From Salon

Botox is now injected behind the ears to tilt them forward, creating the illusion of a smaller, daintier face.

From BBC

Related Words

• cute 
• elegant 
• ethereal 
• exquisite 
• graceful 
• lacy 
• neat 
• petite 
• tasteful 
• tasty