dainty

[ deyn-tee ]

adjective

, dain·ti·er, dain·ti·est.

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 dain·ties.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈdaintiness, noun
• ˈdaintily, adverb

Other Words From

• dain·ti·ly adverb
• dain·ti·ness noun
• o·ver·dain·ti·ness noun
• o·ver·dain·ty adjective
• su·per·dain·ty adjective
• un·dain·ti·ness noun
• un·dain·ty 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

The fandom associated with dainty male stars, Si rues, means that young boys do not want to be soldiers or firefighters anymore.

From Time

This ritual consisted of dainty sandwiches, scones and sweets to quiet their stomach rumblings between meals.

From Washington Post

Cornell released a video explaining the process and showing the origami in action, folding itself from flat into a dainty bird.

From Singularity Hub 

Printmaker Lila Oliver Asher’s rose is a bright but dainty highlight, held by a gray silhouette of a woman.

From Washington Post

So I brought her unshelled walnuts, which she ate with quiet, dainty eagerness.

From Washington Post

When Little Snow White entered, she found everything tiny, but dainty and neat.

From The Daily Beast

He clumsily sipped from the dainty straw of a blasphemously non-bourbon beverage and smiled broadly as he talked to fellow bros.

From The Daily Beast

She looked so sweet and dainty that I kissed her again and then sat down before the easel.

From The Daily Beast

Raw cut leather coats, and ruffles in all shapes and sizes provided a dainty edge.

From The Daily Beast

And all of them dwarfed the FDA's dainty definition of a muffin serving (two ounces).

From The Daily Beast

And he himself brought her the golden-brown bouillon, in a dainty Sevres cup, with a flaky cracker or two on the saucer.

From Project Gutenberg

The lazy giant was sprawling on the most comfortable of the sofas; the pair were alone in the dainty little drawing-room.

From Project Gutenberg

The guests relished it greatly and Alila's father was praised very much for surprising them with this dainty.

From Project Gutenberg

Her movements were free, her figure dainty and her repartee, below her mask, more than usually piquant.

From Project Gutenberg

It was there that he longed to retire—to a dainty little hotel of his own with a smart clientèle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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