delectation

American  

[dee-lek-tey-shuhn] / ˌdi lɛkˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. delight; enjoyment.

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delectation British  

/ ˌdiːlɛkˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. pleasure; enjoyment

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Etymology

Origin of delectation

1350–1400; Middle English delectacioun < Latin dēlectātiōn- (stem of dēlectātiō ), equivalent to dēlectāt ( us ) ( delectate ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

For your delectation, here is a definition. Delectation is a formal word to describe a sense of enjoyment. It makes everything sound fancy. You experience delectation when you feel a sense of delight or joy. You'll almost always find the noun delectation in the phrase "for your delectation," usually when something is being presented or announced. For example, you might cook a fancy dinner for your parents and before serving the first course, declare: "And now, for your delectation, a loaf of homemade bread!" In Old French, the word means "enjoyment," and it shares a Latin root with "delight" and "delicious." It pairs well with chocolate.

Example Sentences

In the early 1900s, the property was leased to Laurel Canyon Water Co., which pitched bottled water “ready for your delectation, just as it comes bubbling from the rocks of Laurel Canyon.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2024

That show presented the cultures of colonized peoples in Africa and Asia for the delectation of bourgeois Westerners, spurring a profound counter-reaction among Asian and African intellectuals.

From Washington Post • Apr. 22, 2022

Where this represents a departure from other such stories is McQueen's willingness to steep us in the delectation of this story and his devotion to ensuring that does not take a backseat to struggle.

From Salon • Dec. 16, 2020

So we’ve highlighted some of the most pronounced, most bougiest signifiers for your delectation and/or condemnation.

From Slate • Oct. 23, 2020

There was, even in their delectation of necks, an innocence born of perfect inexperience combined with...politeness.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor