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dainty
[ deyn-tee ]
/ ˈdeɪn ti /
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adjective, dain·ti·er, dain·ti·est.
of delicate beauty; exquisite: a dainty lace handkerchief.
pleasing to the taste and, often, temptingly served or delicate; delicious: dainty pastries.
of delicate discrimination or taste; particular: a dainty eater.
overly particular; finicky; fastidious.
noun, plural dain·ties.
something delicious to the taste; a delicacy.
OTHER WORDS FOR dainty
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Origin of dainty
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; see dignity
synonym study for dainty
OTHER WORDS FROM dainty
Words nearby dainty
Daimoku, daimon, daimyo, daimyo bond, daintily, dainty, daiquiri, Dairen, dairy, dairy breed, dairy cattle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use dainty in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for dainty
dainty
/ (ˈdeɪntɪ) /
adjective -tier or -tiest
delicate or eleganta dainty teacup
pleasing to the taste; choice; deliciousa dainty morsel
refined, esp excessively genteel; fastidious
noun plural -ties
a choice piece of food, esp a small cake or sweet; delicacy
Derived forms of dainty
daintily, adverbdaintiness, nounWord Origin for dainty
C13: from Old French deintié, from Latin dignitās dignity
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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