delicate
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delicate
- /ˈdɛl.ɪ.kət/ UK
- /ˈdɛl.ɪ.kɪt/ Canada, US
- /ˈdɛl.ə.kɪt/ Canada, US
- /ˈdel.ɪ.kɪt/ Australia
Where it comes from
From Middle English delicat, from Latin dēlicātus (“giving pleasure, delightful, soft, luxurious, delicate, (in Medieval Latin also) fine, slender”), from dēlicia + -ātus (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), usually in plural dēliciae (“pleasure, delight, luxury”), from dēliciō (“to allure, entice”), from dē- (“away”) + laciō (“to lure, to deceive”), from Proto-Italic *lakjō (“to draw, pull”), of unknown ultimate origin. Compare delight, delicious and Spanish delgado (“thin, skinny”). The noun is from a substantivization of the adjective (see -ate).
adjective more delicate · delicater · most delicate · delicatest
- Easily damaged or requiring careful handling. Those clothes are made from delicate lace.
- Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines. Her face was delicate.
- Intended for use with fragile items. Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle.
- Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings. delicate behaviour
- Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship. a delicate child
- Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol. Please don't speak so loudly: I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning.
- Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring. This [Haarlem] is a very delicate towne, and hath one of the fairest Churches, of the Gotiq design, I had seene.
- Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste. a delicate dish
- Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful. Caſ[ſio]. She is a moſt exquiſite Lady. […] Indeede ſhe is a moſt freſh and delicate creature.
- Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour. a delicate shade of blue
- Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
- Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite. a delicate taste
- Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes. a delicate thermometer
noun delicates
- A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie. Don't put that in with your jeans: it's a delicate!
- A choice dainty; a delicacy. With Abstinence all Delicates he Sees, / And can regale himself with Toast and Cheese.
- A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person. A council of war was called, and the delicates met in the great cabin ; the platform was rigged up on the forecastle, the yard-rope rove, and the signal made for all boats to attend execution
- A moth of the species Mythimna vitellina.
