Dainty

Dain"ty

, a. [Compar. Daintier (?); superl. Daintiest.] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]
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Full many a deynt horse had he in stable.

Chaucer.
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Hence the proverb "dainty maketh dearth," i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious.
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2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome.
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Dainty bits
Make rich the ribs.

Shak.
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3. Nice; delicate; elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender.
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Those dainty limbs which nature lent
For gentle usage and soft delicacy.

Milton.
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I would be the girdle.
About her dainty, dainty waist.

Tennyson.
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4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; ceremonious.
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Thew were a fine and dainty people.

Bacon.
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And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away.

Shak.
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To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [Obs.]
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Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all
Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
She, I'll swear, hath corns.

Shak.
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Thu 28th August 2008