dainty

The definition of dainty is delicate or small and often pretty.

(adjective)

An example of something dainty is a tiny little teacup with a beautiful design on it.

See dainty in Webster's New World College Dictionary

a choice food; delicacy

Origin: ME deinte, excellent, fine, orig., feeling of esteem < Anglo-Fr deinté < OFr deinté < L dignitas, worth, dignity

delicious and choice: a dainty morsel
delicately pretty or lovely
1. of or showing delicate and refined taste; fastidious
2. overly or affectedly fastidious; squeamish

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See dainty in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective dain·ti·er, dain·ti·est

Delicately beautiful or charming; exquisite: “No dainty rhymes or sentimental love verses for you, terrible year” (Walt Whitman).
Delicious or choice. See Synonyms at delicate.
Of refined taste; discriminating.
Overly fastidious; squeamish.

noun pl. dain·ties

Something delicious; a delicacy.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English deinte, excellent, excellence

Origin: , from Old French deintie

Origin: , from Latin dignitās

Origin: , from dignus, worthy; see dek- in Indo-European roots

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