dainty

[ deyn-tee ]

adjective

, dain·ti·er, dain·ti·est.

1. of delicate beauty; exquisite:

   a dainty lace handkerchief.

   Synonyms: fine

2. pleasing to the taste and, often, temptingly served or delicate; delicious:

   dainty pastries.

   Synonyms: scrumptious, mouth-watering, delectable, tender

3. of delicate discrimination or taste; particular:

   a dainty eater.

4. overly particular; finicky; fastidious.

   Synonyms: overnice

noun

, plural dain·ties.

1. something delicious to the taste; a delicacy.

   Synonyms: tidbit

dainty

/ ˈdeɪntɪ /

adjective

1. delicate or elegant

   a dainty teacup

2. pleasing to the taste; choice; delicious

   a dainty morsel

3. refined, esp excessively genteel; fastidious

noun

1. a choice piece of food, esp a small cake or sweet; delicacy

Derived Forms

• ˈdaintily, adverb
• ˈdaintiness, noun

Other Words From

• dain·ti·ly adverb
• dain·ti·ness noun
• o·ver·dain·ti·ness noun
• o·ver·dain·ty adjective
• su·per·dain·ty adjective
• un·dain·ti·ness noun
• un·dain·ty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dainty¹

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; dignity

Word History and Origins

Origin of dainty¹

C13: from Old French deintié, from Latin dignitās dignity

Synonym Study

See delicate. See particular.

Example Sentences

The creature lifts its head, nearly dainty in scale, and contentedly gnaws a mouthful of ferns.

From Los Angeles Times

Still tethered around her neck is a dainty gold chain with the name of her fourth studio album, “Encuentros,” released Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

Foods like salad and Jell-O were seen as dainty and understood to be women's cuisine.

From Salon

Ceanothus blooms also don’t last much longer than a day once they’re cut, and manzanitas, large shrubs with reddish limbs and dainty bell-shaped flowers, “are just too precious” to potentially damage by cutting, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

"There's nothing wrong with playing feminine and dainty roles if they're written very well. I think the first question is always if the writing is good, and if there's more than one dimension to them."

From BBC

Related Words

• cute
• elegant
• ethereal
• exquisite
• graceful
• lacy
• neat
• petite
• tasteful
• tasty