dainty English · revision 2354

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdeɪnti/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|deinte|t=esteem, excellence, delight]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) [[bor|xno|deinté]],^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) [[der|fro|deintié|t=price, value; delicacy, pleasure]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la|dignitās|t=worthiness, worth]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''dignus'' “worthy”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[dignity]].^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, esteem, regard or affection (a1225).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) The adjective, “fine, choice, delightful”, follows about 1300–1340.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Barnhart notes the surname ''Deintie'' from 1199.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “worth, esteem” the noun came to mean something choice or delightful, especially a delicacy for the palate (c1300).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The adjective developed from “excellent” to “pleasing to the palate” (1382) and “delicately pretty” (c1400).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) From the 1570s it was used of people with refined taste, and then of the overly fastidious.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a1225 – noun, esteem, honour, affection.^(OED 1989)

+ * c1300 – noun, a delicacy.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c1340 – adjective, fine, choice, excellent.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – adjective, pleasing to the palate.^(OED 1989)

+ * c1400 – adjective, delicately pretty.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1576 – adjective, fastidious, particular.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Delicately small, pretty or graceful; exquisite.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Delicious or choice; attractively served.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Of refined or discriminating taste.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Overly particular; fussy or squeamish.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something delicious; a delicacy.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[daintily]]

+ * [[daintiness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dignity]]

+ * [[deign]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}