n.; pl. Dainties [ OE. deinie, dainte, deintie, deyntee, OF. deintié 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I ne told no deyntee of her love. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

That precious nectar may the taste renew
Of Eden's dainties, by our parents lost. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A term of fondness. [ Poetic ] B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Dainty, Delicacy. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

These delicacies
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,
Walks and the melody of birds. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ A table ] furnished plenteously with bread,
And dainties, remnants of the last regale. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Daintier superl. Daintiest. ] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Full many a deynté horse had he in stable. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Hence the proverb “dainty maketh dearth, ” i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dainty bits
Make rich the ribs. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Nice; delicate; elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those dainty limbs which nature lent
For gentle usage and soft delicacy. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I would be the girdle.
About her dainty, dainty waist. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; ceremonious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thew were a fine and dainty people. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all
Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
She, I'll swear, hath corns. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]