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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Dainty \Dain"ty\, a. [Compar. {Daintier}; superl. {Daintiest}.]
1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]
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Full many a deynt['e] horse had he in stable.
--Chaucer.
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Note: 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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Dainty \Dain"ty\, n.; pl. {Dainties}. [OE. deinie, dainte,
deintie, deyntee, OF. deinti['e] delicacy, orig., dignity,
honor, fr. L. dignitas, fr. dignus worthy. See {Deign}, and
cf. {Dignity}.]
1. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in
anything. [Obs.]
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I ne told no deyntee of her love. --Chaucer.
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2. That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy.
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That precious nectar may the taste renew
Of Eden's dainties, by our parents lost. --Beau. &
Fl.
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3. A term of fondness. [Poetic] --B. Jonson.

Syn: {Dainty}, {Delicacy}.

Usage: These words are here compared as denoting articles of
food. The term delicacy as applied to a nice article
of any kind, and hence to articles of food which are
particularly attractive. Dainty is stronger, and
denotes some exquisite article of cookery. A hotel may
be provided with all the delicacies of the season, and
its table richly covered with dainties.
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These delicacies
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits,
and flowers,
Walks and the melody of birds. --Milton.
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[A table] furnished plenteously with bread,
And dainties, remnants of the last regale.
--Cowper.
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