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dulcet

[duhl-sit]
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adjective
  1. pleasant to the ear; melodious: the dulcet tones of the cello.
  2. pleasant or agreeable to the eye or the feelings; soothing.
  3. Archaic. sweet to the taste or smell.
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noun
  1. an organ stop resembling the dulciana but an octave higher.
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Origin of dulcet

1350–1400; obsolete dulce (< Latin, neuter of dulcis sweet) + -et; replacing Middle English doucet < Middle French; see douce
Related formsdul·cet·ly, adverbdul·cet·ness, noun

Synonyms

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1. musical, tuneful, mellifluous, sweet-sounding.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for dulcet

Historical Examples

  • They must be taught to speak in other voices than the dulcet tones of peeresses.

    All Roads Lead to Calvary

    Jerome K. Jerome

  • A soft blending Of dulcet instruments came charmingly;950 And then a hymn.

    Endymion

    John Keats

  • It was no use; he managed somehow to make his dulcet notes heard.

  • Before the world had hardened it its tones might have been soft and dulcet.

  • "He is on the lawn, dear Rosa," said Falcon, in his most dulcet tones.

    A Simpleton

    Charles Reade

British Dictionary definitions for dulcet

dulcet

adjective
  1. (of a sound) soothing or pleasant; sweet
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Derived Formsdulcetly, adverbdulcetness, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Latin dulcis sweet
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

Word Origin and History for dulcet

adj.

late 14c., from Old French doucet, diminutive of doux "sweet," earlier dulz, from Latin dulcis, from PIE *dlk-wi-, suffixed form of root *dlk-u- "sweet" (cf. glucose).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper