delicate English · revision 10539

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1375|origins=la delicatus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdel.ɪ.kət/, /ˈdel.ə.kət/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is, through Old French délicat or directly, [[bor|la|dēlicātus|t=alluring, delightful, luxurious, dainty]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) which is of unknown origin^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) but is related, at least by folk etymology, to dēliciae, delight, and dēlicere, to allure, entice (see [[delight]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of a person, self-indulgent, loving ease: about 1375, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English it also meant delightful (1382), of food pleasing to the palate (about 1380), and given to luxury or pleasure (about 1386), senses now obsolete except for dainty food.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The modern senses grew from the idea of refinement: fine, not coarse or robust, and finely sensitive or skilful, from the 16th century,^(Hoad 1986) and the dainty beauty of things from 1583.^(OED 1989) ''Delicacy'' is from the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – self-indulgent.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1380 – of food, dainty.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1553 – of air or climate, mild.^(OED 1989)

+ * 16th century – fine, fragile; finely skilful.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[exquisite|alt=Exquisitely]] fine or dainty in quality or construction.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of colour, taste or tone, pleasantly subtle or faint.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[fragile|alt=Fragile]]; easily broken or damaged, or frail in health.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Needing [[tact]] or careful handling: ''a delicate situation''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Sensitive and precise in operation: ''a delicate mechanism''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[delicately]]

+ * [[delicateness]]

+ * [[hyperdelicate]]

+ * [[overdelicate]]

+ * [[superdelicate]]

+ * [[indelicate]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[delicacy]]

+ * [[delicatessen]]

+ * [[delicious]]

+ * [[delight]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}