fineness of texture, quality, etc.; softness; daintiness: the delicacy of lace.
something delightful or pleasing, especially a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like: Caviar is a great delicacy.
the quality of being easily broken or damaged; fragility.
the quality of requiring or involving great care or tact: negotiations of great delicacy.
extreme sensitivity; precision of action or operation; minute accuracy: the delicacy of a skillful surgeon's touch; a watch mechanism of unusual delicacy.
fineness of perception or feeling; sensitiveness: the delicacy of the pianist's playing.
fineness of feeling with regard to what is fitting, proper, etc.: Delicacy would not permit her to be rude.
sensitivity with regard to the feelings of others: She criticized him with such delicacy that he was not offended.
bodily weakness; liability to sickness; frailty.
Linguistics. (especially in systemic linguistics) the degree of minuteness pursued at a given stage of analysis in specifying distinctions in linguistic description.
Obsolete. sensuous indulgence; luxury.
Origin of delicacy
First recorded in 1325–75,delicacy is from the Middle English word delicasie. See delicate, -cy
late 14c., "delightfulness; fastidiousness; quality of being addicted to sensuous pleasure," from delicate + -cy. Meaning "fineness, softness, tender loveliness" is from 1580s; that of "weakness of constitution" is from 1630s. Meaning "fine food, a dainty viand" is from early 15c.
