dain

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Daintified p. pr. & vb. n. Daintifying. ] [ Dainty + -fy. ] To render dainty, delicate, or fastidious. “Daintified emotion.” Sat. rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a dainty manner; nicely; scrupulously; fastidiously; deliciously; prettily. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being dainty; nicety; niceness; elegance; delicacy; deliciousness; fastidiousness; squeamishness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The daintiness and niceness of our captains Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

More notorious for the daintiness of the provision . . . than for the massiveness of the dish. Hakewill. [ 1913 Webster ]

The duke exeeded in the daintiness of his leg and foot, and the earl in the fine shape of his hands, Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From daint or dainty; cf. OF. daintier. ] Adelicacy. [ Obs. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]