dainty

1 of 2

noun

dain·​ty ˈdān-tē How to pronounce dainty (audio)
plural dainties
1
a
: something delicious to the taste
a London dainty—a pyramid of jellyVirginia Woolf
b
: something choice or pleasing
2
obsolete : fastidiousness

dainty

2 of 2

adjective

daintier; daintiest
1
a
: tasting good : tasty
dainty morsels
b
: attractively prepared and served
dainty sandwiches on silver trays
2
: marked by delicate or diminutive beauty, form, or grace
dainty teacups
took a dainty sip
3
obsolete : chary, reluctant
… let us not be dainty of leave-taking …Shakespeare
4
a
: marked by fastidious discrimination or finicky taste
b
: showing avoidance of anything rough
gentry too dainty to risk blisters on their handsG. W. Johnson
daintily adverb
daintiness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for dainty

choice, exquisite, elegant, rare, delicate, dainty mean having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste.

choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

Examples of dainty in a Sentence

Noun the widow plied her suitor with dainties and endless glasses of sherry Adjective Her hair was decorated with dainty pink flowers. the girl's dainty little hands The dancers' dainty steps were followed by a series of leaps. She took a dainty sip of tea from her teacup. They served dainty sandwiches on silver trays. The food was served in dainty portions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
One is a dog, one is a daintier version of Reynolds himself, one is a Lady Deadpool, and another is emblazoned with the green colors and red dragon of the Welsh flag. Christian Holub, EW.com, 29 July 2024 This Diamond Initial Necklace from Sarah O is dainty, beautiful, sparkly, and pairs super well with other pieces. Victoria Montalti, refinery29.com, 10 Jan. 2024 Being relatively big and covered in black-and-yellow fuzz allows the world’s roughly 250 bumblebee species to withstand more frigid temperatures than honeybees, which are generally daintier and less hairy, and are not native to North America. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2024 But even when presented with this, the most modest and daintiest wedge of rind-on watermelon, my mother will slice the flesh away with a knife and fork and cut it up before eating it. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 24 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dainty 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dainty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English deinte, dainte "state of honor, high esteem, delight, luxury, marvel, delicacy, choice morsel," borrowed from Anglo-French deinté, dainté "esteem, fine object or deed, choice morsel" (continental Old French deintié), going back to Latin dignitāt-, dignitās "suitability, excellence, standing, esteem" — more at dignity

Adjective

Middle English deinte "excellent, delightful, (of food or drink) fine, delicious," adjective derivative of deinte, dainte "high esteem, delight, luxury, delicacy, choice morsel" — more at dainty entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of dainty was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near dainty

Cite this Entry

“Dainty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dainty. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dainty

1 of 2 noun
dain·​ty ˈdānt-ē How to pronounce dainty (audio)
plural dainties
: something delicious to the taste : delicacy

dainty

2 of 2 adjective
daintier; daintiest
1
2
: delicately pretty
a dainty flower
3
: having or showing delicate or finicky taste
a dainty eater
daintily adverb
daintiness noun

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