finicky English · revision 2050

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɪnɪki/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an alteration of [[finicking]],^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) or is formed from ''finick'' and [[-y]],^(RHWU)^(AHD) ultimately from [[finical]] “too particular” (1592).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) ''Finical'' is perhaps from [[fine]] and ''-ical'' as in ''cynical'', ''ironical''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The related ''finikin'' (1660s) may come from Middle Dutch ''fijnkens'' “precisely”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Dainty, mincing; excessively particular (1825).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It began as a dialect word,^(Barnhart 1995) a variant of ''finicking'' and ''finikin'', both meaning dainty and fussy about trifles.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The ''-k-'' is a spelling rule to keep the ''c'' hard before ''-y'', as in ''panicky''.^(Etymonline) The word describes people who are hard to please,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and also tasks that need great care and precision.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1592 – ''finical'', too particular.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1661 – ''finikin'', dainty.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1825 – ''finicky''.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Excessively particular or fussy; difficult to please.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Requiring much care, precision or attention.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[finickiness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[finical]]

+ * [[finicking]]

+ * [[fine]]

+ * [[fussy]]

+ * [[picky]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}