preciosity

[ presh-ee-os-i-tee ]

/ ˌprɛʃ iˈɒs ɪ ti /

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noun, plural pre·ci·os·i·ties.

fastidious or carefully affected refinement, as in language, style, or taste.

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Origin of preciosity

1350–1400; Middle English preciousite<Middle French preciosite<Latin pretiōsitās.See precious, -ity

Words nearby preciosity

pre-Christmas, précieuse, précieux, precinct, precincts, preciosity, precious, precious coral, precious few, precious metal, precious opal

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How to use preciosity in a sentence

But what exasperated Punch most of all was the decadent preciosity of the irregulars who espoused the cause of the New Womanhood.
Mr. Punch's History of Modern England Vol. IV of IV.|Charles L. Graves
His dramatic works, though effective on the stage, are disfigured by extravagant incidents and preciosity of diction.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6|Various
Lockhart hated all affectation and “preciosity,” of which the new book was not destitute.
Alfred Tennyson|Andrew Lang
It is only that, in seeking to compensate himself for his infecundity, he has fallen into the deep sea of preciosity.
Musical Portraits|Paul Rosenfeld

Preciosity and artificiality reach their height in Arnaut's poems, which are, for that reason, excessively difficult.
The Troubadours|H.J. Chaytor

British Dictionary definitions for preciosity

preciosity

/ (ˌprɛʃɪˈɒsɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

fastidiousness or affectation, esp in speech or manners

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