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Definitions for: Delicacy
[n] lightness in movement or manner
[n] the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance; "the daintiness of her touch"; "the fineness of her features"
[n] subtly skillful handling of a situation
[n] lack of physical strength
[n] smallness of stature
[n] refined taste; tact
[n] something considered choice to eat
Webster (1913) Definition: Del"i*ca*cy, n.; pl. Delicacies. [From Delicate,
a.]
1. The state or condition of being delicate; agreeableness to
the senses; delightfulness; as, delicacy of flavor, of
odor, and the like.
What choice to choose for delicacy best. --Milton.
2. Nicety or fineness of form, texture, or constitution;
softness; elegance; smoothness; tenderness; and hence,
frailty or weakness; as, the delicacy of a fiber or a
thread; delicacy of a hand or of the human form; delicacy
of the skin; delicacy of frame.
3. Nice propriety of manners or conduct; susceptibility or
tenderness of feeling; refinement; fastidiousness; and
hence, in an exaggerated sense, effeminacy; as, great
delicacy of behavior; delicacy in doing a kindness;
delicacy of character that unfits for earnest action.
You know your mother's delicacy in this point.
--Cowper.
4. Addiction to pleasure; luxury; daintiness; indulgence;
luxurious or voluptuous treatment.
And to those dainty limbs which Nature lent For
gentle usage and soft delicacy? --Milton.
5. Nice and refined perception and discrimination; critical
niceness; fastidious accuracy.
That Augustan delicacy of taste which is the boast
of the great public schools of England. --Macaulay.
6. The state of being affected by slight causes;
sensitiveness; as, the delicacy of a chemist's balance.
7. That which is alluring, delicate, or refined; a luxury or
pleasure; something pleasant to the senses, especially to
the sense of taste; a dainty; as, delicacies of the table.
The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through
the abundance of her delicacies. --Rev. xviii.
3.
8. Pleasure; gratification; delight. [Obs.]
He Rome brent for his delicacie. --Chaucer.
Syn: See Dainty.
Synonyms: airiness, daintiness, dainty, diplomacy, discreetness, discretion, fineness, finesse, fragility, goody, kickshaw, slightness, treat
See Also: aliment, alimentation, ambrosia, appreciation, bone marrow, choice morsel, confection, confectionery, discernment, elegance, gelatin, jelly, life, littleness, liveliness, marrow, nectar, nourishment, nutriment, nutrition, perceptiveness, savory, savoury, smallness, spirit, sprightliness, sustenance, sweet, tact, tactfulness, taste, tidbit, titbit, victuals, weakness
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