delicious English · revision 5836

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la-lat deliciosus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈlɪʃ.əs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|delicious]], delicios (modern French délicieux),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la-lat|dēliciōsus|t=delicious, delicate]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|dēliciae|t=delight, allurement, charm]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) from dēlicere “to allure, entice”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from dē- “away” and lacere “to lure”, which is of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline) See [[delight]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Highly delightful, pleasing in the highest degree: about 1300 in the OED and Etymonline; probably before 1300, in ''Kyng Alisaunder'', in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Pleasing to the bodily senses, especially taste and smell, is from 1340.^(OED 1989) In Middle English the word also meant given to sensual indulgence or luxurious, of things from before 1340 and of persons from 1393, senses now gone.^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998) Intensely amusing, as in a delicious joke, is from 1642.^(OED 1989) The Delicious apple, first grown by Jesse Hiatt of Iowa, is named from 1903,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the colloquial shortening delish is from 1920.^(Etymonline) Word Origins suggests that [[luscious]] may be an alteration of delicious.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – highly delightful.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1340 – pleasing to taste and smell.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1393 – of persons, voluptuous (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1642 – very amusing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1903 – the Delicious apple.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1920 – delish.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Very pleasing to the [[taste]] or [[smell]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Very pleasant or enjoyable; delightful: ''a delicious joke''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Delicious)'' A sweet red or yellow variety of [[apple]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[deliciously]]

+ * [[deliciousness]]

+ * [[delish]]

+ * [[overdelicious]]

+ * [[undelicious]]

+ * [[red delicious]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[delight]]

+ * [[delicacy]]

+ * [[delicate]]

+ * [[luscious]]

+ * [[elicit]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD groups delicious with ambrosial, delectable, luscious, scrumptious, toothsome and yummy, all meaning extremely pleasing to the taste.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}