DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Dain·ty, a. [Compar. Daintier superl. Daintiest.]
 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]
    Full many a deynté horse had he in stable.   --Chaucer.
 Note: ☞ Hence the proverb “dainty maketh dearth,” i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious.
 2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome.
 Dainty bits
 Make rich the ribs.   --Shak.
 3. Nice; delicate; elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender.
 Those dainty limbs which nature lent
 For gentle usage and soft delicacy.   --Milton.
 I would be the girdle.
 About her dainty, dainty waist.   --Tennyson.
 4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; ceremonious.
    Thew were a fine and dainty people.   --Bacon.
 And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
 But shift away.   --Shak.
 To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [Obs.]
 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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