nice

a. [ Compar. Nicer superl. Nicest. ] [ OE., foolish, fr. OF. nice ignorant, fool, fr. L. nescius ignorant; ne not + scius knowing, scire to know. Perhaps influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft. See No, and Science. ] 1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate. [ Obs. ] Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

But say that we ben wise and nothing nice. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The letter was not nice, but full of charge
Of dear import. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Wanton. [ Obs. ] [ PJC ]

4. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters. [ 1913 Webster ]

Curious not knowing, not exact but nice. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

And to taste
Think not I shall be nice. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure; -- of people. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dear love, continue nice and chaste. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

A nice and subtile happiness. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment; -- of people. “Our author happy in a judge so nice.” Pope. “Nice verbal criticism.” Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Hence: Exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; fine; subtle; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The difference is too nice
Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc.; -- of events, actions, experiences. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Pleasant; kind; as, a nice person; -- of people. [ PJC ]

11. Hence: Well-mannered; well-behaved; as, nice children; -- of people. [ PJC ]

He's making a list, checking it twice.
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town. Song.

To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; subtle; accurate; exact; correct; precise; particular; pleasant; kind; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; well-mannered; well-behaved. [ 1913 Webster ]