dainty

1 of 2

noun

dain·​ty ˈdān-tē 

plural dainties

1

a

: something delicious to the taste

a London dainty—a pyramid of jelly

—Virginia 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 hands

—G. W. Johnson

daintily

ˈdān-tə-lē 

adverb

daintiness

ˈdān-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• bit
• cate [archaic]
• delectable
• delicacy
• goody
• goodie
• kickshaw
• tidbit
• titbit
• treat
• viand

Adjective

• choosy
• choosey
• delicate
• demanding
• exacting
• fastidious
• finical
• finicking
• finicky
• fussbudgety
• fussy
• nice
• old-maidish
• particular
• pernickety [chiefly British]
• persnickety
• picky

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

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

Kids Definition

dainty

1 of 2 noun

dain·​ty ˈdānt-ē 

plural dainties

: something delicious to the taste : delicacy

dainty

2 of 2 adjective

daintier; daintiest

1

: tasty sense 1, delicious

2

: delicately pretty

a dainty flower

3

: having or showing delicate or finicky taste

a dainty eater

daintily

ˈdān-tə-lē 

adverb

daintiness

ˈdānt-ē-nəs 

noun