| 释义 |
daintiness|ˈdeɪntɪnɪs|
[f. dainty a. + -ness.]
The quality of being dainty.
1.
†a. The quality of being fine, handsome, delightful, etc. Obs. in general sense.
b. Of food: Choiceness, deliciousness.
1552Huloet, Deyntines of meates at a banquet, lautitia. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 167 In daintinesse and goodnesse of meat, the Hennes may compare with..the goose [etc.]. 1627Hakewill Apol. (J.), It was more notorious for the daintiness of the provision which he served in it, than for the massiness of the dish.
2. Delicate beauty, elegance, gracefulness; neatness, deftness.
1580Sidney Arcadia i. (1725) 106 Leucippe was of a fine daintiness of beauty. 1669A. Browne Ars Pict. (1675) 19 The grossness, slenderness, clownishness, and daintyness of Bodies. 1878J. W. Ebsworth Brathwait's Strappado Introd. 28 There is poetic grace and daintiness of expression in the charming little lyric. 1884Black Jud. Shaks. xxx, The pretty daintinesses of her coaxing.
3. Niceness, fastidiousness, delicacy, scrupulousness (of taste, sensibility, etc.).
1579Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. xxi. 250/2 What greter daintinesse doe we make at blasphemies? 1593Shakes. Rich. II, v. v. 45 Daintinesse of eare. 1624Wotton Archit. i, Of sand, Lyme, and clay, Vitruvius hath discoursed without any daintiness. 1892Speaker 3 Sept. 299/1 A certain discrimination, a certain daintiness of choice.
4. Niceness of appetite; fastidiousness with regard to food, personal comfort, etc.; softness.
1530Palsgr. 212/2 Deyntinesse, friandise. 1598Hakluyt Voy. I. 250 (R.) How iustly may this barbarous and rude Russe condemne the daintinesse and nicenesse of our captaines. 1670Milton Hist. Eng. v. (1851) 232 The People..learnt..of the Flemish daintiness and softness. 1836W. Irving Astoria I. 78 What especially irritated the captain was the daintiness of some of his cabin passengers. They were loud in their complaints of the ship's fare.
†5. Physical delicacy or tenderness. Obs.
1575Turberv. Faulconrie 229 In these cures of diseases that grow in the eyes there must be great care used..bicause of the dayntinesse of the place. |