delicacyn.
/ˈdɛlᵻkəsi/, U.S. /ˈdɛləkəsi/ I. Luxury, indulgence, delight, and related senses.† 1. † 2. Indulgence in, love of, or addiction to luxury or pleasure; self-indulgence. Obsolete.† 4. Gratification, pleasure, enjoyment. Obsolete.† 5.
a. Luxury, sumptuousness; easy or soft living; indulgence, pampering. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun]
softnessOE
voluptuositya1380
voluptuoustya1382
delicacya1393
deliciousnessa1500
volupteousness1526
niceness1540
nicety1542
wealiness1545
luxe1558
voluptibility1631
luxury1633
voluptuousness1652
volupté1712
decadence1882
gracious living1892
vie de luxe1920
good life1937
dolce vita1961
sweet life1962
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 325 Delicacie his swete toth Hath fostred so that it fordoth Of abstinence al that ther is.
1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) l. 9548 (MED) She..was of beute floure And fostryd up wyth kyngly delycacye.
1629 J. Maxwell tr. Herodian Hist. i. ii. 107 The Glory of a Souldier consists in Labour, not in Lazinesse or Delicacie.
1726 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey V. xx. 82 Venus in tender delicacy rears With honey, milk, and wine, their infant years.
b. A luxurious or pleasurable thing; a source of physical pleasure; a luxury. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun] > a luxury
delicatec1450
delicacya1500
luxury1780
a1500 tr. A. Chartier Famylyer Dyaloge Freende & Felaw (Sion Coll. London) (1989) 15 We bere broken ores yf we dyssolue temperaunce wyth superfluouse eese and delycacyes.
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) i. 19 These lurke loyteringlie plunged in delicacies..as Swine in the mire.
1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence vi. 165 A people very strong and hardy, & the rather for not beeing weakned with delicacies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > sensuality > [noun]
delice?c1225
delicacya1393
sensualityc1425
voluptuousness1508
sensualness1530
luxuriousness1542
deliciousness1548
epicurism1570
epicurity1574
carnal-mindedness1607
Epicureanism1726
sensualism1760
pleasurehood1842
fleshly-mindedness1846
apolausticism1883
sensism1890
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 608 Of the seconde Glotonie, Which cleped is Delicacie.
?c1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer Former Age (Cambr. Ii.3.21) (1878) l. 58 Yit was nat Iuppiter the lykerous Þat fyrst was fadyr of delicasie.
1581 Compendious Exam. Certayne Ordinary Complaints ii. f. 25 Our delicacy in requiring straungers Wares.
1680 C. Blount tr. Philostratus Life Apollonius Tyaneus ii. xii. 229 Cephisodorus the Disciple of Isocrates, charg'd him with Delicacy, Intemperance, and Gluttony.
1741 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero II. xii. 503 In his [sc. Cicero's] cloaths and dress..avoiding the extremes of a rustic negligence and foppish delicacy.
3. † a. The quality of being delicious or very appetizing; deliciousness. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [noun]
delicacya1393
savourinessa1398
deliciousnessa1450
delicateness?1529
daintiness1552
toothsomeness1612
piquantness1648
palatableness1721
tastefulness1727
fumet1735
lightness1799
palatability1850
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. l. 2434 Verconius of cokerie Ferst made the delicacie.
1572 J. Parinchef tr. Extracte of Examples, Apothegmes, & Hist. 104 Neither could he [sc. Damocles] behold the comelinesse of his seruitures, nor yet the delicacie of his meat, but only fasteninɡ his eyes on the sworde, he desired..leaue to departe.
1650 Bp. J. Taylor Rule & Exercises Holy Living ii. 69 Be not troublesome to thy self or others in the choice of thy meats, or the delicacy of thy sauces.
1763 R. Roberts tr. J.-F. Marmontel Select Moral Tales 151 The delicacy of this feast seemed to out-do all that had gone before.
1873 Appletons' Jrnl. 1 Jan. 13/2 That most venomous of reptiles, the rattle-snake, was sought after for the delicacy of his meat.
b. A delicious, choice, or rare food; a favoured, special, or gourmet dish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [noun] > delicacy or titbit
daintethc1290
daintyc1300
morselc1390
confection1393
delicec1405
delicacya1425
delicatea1475
friandise1484
deliciositiesa1500
daintive1526
junket1538
knack1548
daintrel1575
cate1578
pulpament1600
gaudy1622
regalo1622
daint1633
titbita1641
scitament1656
regale1673
knick-knack1682
nicety1704
bonne bouche1721
diablotin1770
sunket1788
regalement1795
confiture1802
bon-bon1821
sock1825
delicatessen1853
good things1861
tiddlywinks1893
a1425 Dialogue Reason & Adversity (Cambr.) (1968) 39 (MED) Nature lokeþ after no delicacies but þe lippes of lust be so likerouzs him liste not euen soupe but ȝif he haue wilde foul.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail lv. l. 270 The peple..weren Repleynsched..with alle Maner Metes and delecasyes.
1605 M. Drayton Poems sig. Hh2v Me with Ambrosiall delicacies fed.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 172. ⁋10 Untasted delicacies solicit his appetite.
1879 F. W. Farrar Life & Work St. Paul I. iv. xv. 275 A pig..was..the chief delicacy at Gentile banquets.
2014 Time Out Kuala Lumpur Mar. 6/2 Authentic Chinese delicacies, namely abalone, hairy crab and Hong Kong-style dim sum.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [noun]
merrinesseOE
gladnessc900
mirtheOE
playeOE
dreamOE
gladshipc975
lissOE
willOE
hightOE
blithenessc1000
gladc1000
winOE
blissc1175
delices?c1225
delight?c1225
joy?c1225
comfortc1230
listc1275
gladhead1303
daintyc1325
fainnessc1340
lightnessa1350
delectationc1384
delightingc1390
comfortationa1400
fainheada1400
blithec1400
fainc1400
delicacyc1405
gladsomeness1413
reveriea1425
joyousitiea1450
joyfulnessc1485
jucundity1536
joyousness1549
joc1560
delightfulness1565
jouissance1579
joyance1590
levitya1631
revelling1826
chuckle1837
joyancy1849
a song in one's heart1862
delightsomeness1866
c1405 (c1375) G. Chaucer Monk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 393 He Rome brende for his delicacie [c1405 Hengwrt delicasie].
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 333 She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent What choice to chuse for delicacie best. View more context for this quotation
a. The quality of being pleasing or delightful, esp. to the eye, mind, soul, etc.; loveliness, beauty, elegance. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun]
wlitec825
faireOE
fairnessOE
fairlecc1225
fairheadc1300
fairshipc1300
forma1382
clearnessa1400
beautyc1405
delicacya1450
pulchritudea1460
speciositya1470
lovelinessa1500
beautifulnessc1500
formosityc1500
fairhood?1503
bewtynes?c1510
decorea1513
venusty1559
decorum1604
bellitude1623
beauteousnessa1631
loveliheada1637
decor1656
luculency1656
Venus1657
coquetry1794
beautyhood1832
glamour1840
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xv. l. 610 (MED) This lord..wile leden Me Into A plase..ful of Ioye and delicasie.
1517 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xi. 45 O redolent well of fomous poetry..Reflerynge out the dulcet dylycacy Of .iiii. ryuers in meruaylous wydenesse.
1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion i. 5 Euen in the agedst face, where beautie once did dwell..something wil appeare, To showe some little tract of delicacie there.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 61 Though generally they haue within, no Ornaments after our fashion, yet some peculiar Houses..may be competitors for delicacie with most in Europe.
b. A source of delight or enjoyment; a very enjoyable or pleasurable thing. Obsolete (archaic in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [noun] > source of pleasure
honeycombOE
sweetness?c1225
dainty1340
sweet1377
delicec1390
lust1390
pleasancec1390
pleasingc1390
well-queema1400
well-queemnessa1400
douceurc1400
delectation?a1425
pleasure1443
pleaserc1447
delectabilitiesa1500
deliciositiesa1500
honeydew1559
delicacy1586
fancy1590
sugar candy1591
regalo1622
happiness1637
deliciousness1651
complacence1667
regalea1677
sweetener1741
bon-bon1856
Bones1869
jam1871
true love1893
nuts1910
barrel of fun (laughs, etc.)1915
G-spot1983
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > quality of causing joy or delight > [noun] > an instance or source of joy or delight
playeOE
mirthOE
blissa1000
winOE
sunbeamc1175
delight?c1225
joyc1275
delightingc1350
joying1388
delicec1390
delectation?a1425
rejoice1445
delectabilitiesa1500
deliciositiesa1500
delectables1547
delicacy1586
venery1607
deliciousness1651
thrilling1747
peaches and cream1920
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. D3 The very discription and liuely deliuery whereof, maketh vs beleeue that..our very sences are partakers of euery delicacy in them contayned.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 526 These delicacies..of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, & Flours, Walks, and the melodie of Birds. View more context for this quotation
1882 R. L. Stevenson New Arabian Nights I. 33 The President's company is a delicacy in itself.
II. Sensitivity, fineness, fragility, and related senses.† 12. A refined or sensitive trait or characteristic. Also: a polite remark or courteous act; a courtesy. Chiefly in plural. Obsolete.
6. The quality of being difficult to please or satisfy; fastidiousness, fussiness; squeamishness. Often depreciative. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [noun]
curiosityc1386
delicacya1393
curiousnessc1440
delicatesse1509
delicateness?1529
daintethness1548
exquisiteness?c1550
over-curiousness1573
featness1577
daintiness1579
dainty1590
finicality1594
niceness1604
squeamishness1654
fastidiousness1661
choicenessa1665
overnicety1664
finicalness1675
hypercriticism1678
overniceness1694
nicety1723
over-delicacy1745
daintihood1780
finickiness1833
finicism1844
over-criticism1859
overfineness1859
particularness1859
faddiness1865
finicking1869
picksomeness1881
pernicketiness1890
perfectionism1937
choosiness1945
pickiness1952
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 724 (MED) Mi stomac mai it noght defie; Lo, such is the delicacie Of love.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxiii. l. 44 (MED) That Sihte So fulfilleth Me And maketh me ful Of delicase, That to Eten ne drinken have I non lust.
1726 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xix. 397 The delicacy of your courtly train To wash a wretched wand'rer wou'd disdain.
1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature Demonstrative Evid. 118 The common old thin 4to. is not adapted to modern delicacy in books.
1874 D. Masson in J. Milton Poet. Wks. I. p. xiii He was nicknamed ‘The Lady’ on account of his fair complexion, feminine and graceful appearance, and a certain haughty delicacy in his tastes and morals.
1990 H. P. Boyer tr. M. de Zayas Enchantm. of Love 80 Don Marcos was of medium height but, given the delicacy of his eating habits, he turned from a youth into a stalk of asparagus.
7. Tenderness or weakness of constitution or health; lack of strength or robustness, fragility; susceptibility to damage, injury, or disease.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [noun] > weakness > of constitution
delicacya1586
delicateness1678
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xxiii. sig. Dd4 Poore Daiphantus fell extreme sick, yet would needs conquere the delicacie of her constitution, and force her selfe to waite on me.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 3. ¶3 Whether it was from the Delicacy of her Constitution, or that she was troubled with the Vapours.
1816 M. Keating Trav. (1817) II. 181 The silk-cultivation has been on the decline in this part of the world, from the extreme delicacy of the insect.
1943 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 20 Nov. 786/2 The Master of the National Maternity Hospital referred to the very great delicacy of the vessels in the placenta.
2009 New Straits Times (Malaysia) (Nexis) 28 May The delicacy of her health and the frailty of her political condition leave no room for ambivalence and prevarication.
8. Exquisite fineness of texture, substance, finish, etc.; graceful slightness, slenderness, or softness; soft or tender beauty.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [noun] > delicateness or daintiness
softheadc1350
delicateness?1529
daintethness1548
gingerliness1583
daintinessa1586
delicacya1586
subtilty1660
the blue of the plum1707
bloom1777
daintification1780
daintihood1780
fairyhood1832
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. ii. f. 153 A man..in whom strong making tooke not away delicacie, nor beautie fiercenesse.
1757 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful iii. §16. 101 An air of robustness and strength is very prejudicial to beauty. An appearance of delicacy, and even of fragility, is almost essential to it.
1950 W. O. Douglas Of Men & Mountains vii. 88 The size of the flower, the delicacy of its texture, the gracefulness of its stance, make it one of the most wondrous of all the creations of nature.
2006 Guardian (Nexis) 5 Aug. (Weekend Suppl.) 17 There is great delicacy to her beauty. She wears no make-up, and looks all the better for it.
9. Elegant or subtle refinement of skill, execution, expression, etc.; exceptional deftness; elegance; subtlety.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > fineness or nicety of skill
delicacy1675
1675 H. Neville tr. N. Machiavelli Life Castruccio Castracani in tr. N. Machiavelli Wks. 245 This double intelligence was managed with..slyness and delicacy.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 66 Scotsmen..wrote Latin verse with more than the delicacy of Vida.
1885 Truth 28 May 848/2 The spray is rendered with much lightness and delicacy.
2017 S. Westwood & S. Moss Wonderland 327 On warm September days I've seen..elegant falcons..plucking the rising crane flies from the air with great delicacy.
10.
a. Keenness of sensory perception; acuteness or subtlety of observation, discernment, understanding, etc.; perceptiveness. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > delicacy of
subtletya1450
subtility1494
election1531
fineness1561
finesse1564
delicacy1678
subtlety1728
nicety1780
subtleness1872
1678 Philos. Trans. 1677 (Royal Soc.) 12 977 This Tunick [of the Nose] examined and compar'd in several Animals, shews also much of the reason of the delicacy of Smelling in some, above what it is in others.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xi. 60 His principles would be relaxed, and the delicacy of his sense of right and wrong impaired.
1884 R. W. Church Bacon ix. 216 Their truth and piercingness and delicacy of observation.
2006 D. Townsend Hist. Dict. Aesthetics (at cited word) Perfect pitch is an instance of delicacy of hearing. Ability to discriminate colors requires a delicacy of vision.
b. With reference to an instrument: the ability to detect or measure slight changes, quantities, signals, etc.; sensitivity. With reference to a measurement: precision. Now somewhat rare.
ΚΠ
1825 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 115 143 To show the extreme delicacy of the instrument, place it opposite a single candle, and it will be sensibly affected at the distance of 10, 20, or 30 feet.
1866 B. Stewart Heat §29. 23 Such an instrument will therefore indicate any difference of temperature with great delicacy.
1972 Physics in Perspective (National Res. Council (U.S.) Physics Surv. Comm.) II. Pt. A. ii. iii. 236 When coupled with sophisticated electronic instrumentation, they [sc. these techniques] bring a delicacy of measurement previously inaccessible to routine industrial activity.
11. A refined sense of what is proper or appropriate; sensitivity to feelings of embarrassment, shame, etc.; consideration for the feelings of others.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > chastity > modesty or decency > [noun]
pudicity1567
pudor1623
modesty1632
decency1639
delicacy1712
propriety1753
properness1873
pudeur1876
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 286 A false Delicacy is Affectation, not Politeness.
1843 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. x. 171 Nothing can exceed their cordiality and delicacy, so that their benefactions are given as a compliment.
1955 G. Gorer Exploring Eng. Char. xv. 287 What seems to have remained constant is..consideration and delicacy for the feelings of other people.
2016 Independent (Nexis) 27 Feb. It was assumed that a sense of delicacy would keep Anastasia away from the tea shop, but no, there she was the very next afternoon, quite unmoved by the darting glances flung at her above the coffee cups.
ΚΠ
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 491 The Decencies, Honours, and Delicacies that attend the Passion towards them [sc. women] in elegant Minds.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 98 (1753) I Those little civilities and ceremonious delicacies.
1779 J. Moore View Society & Manners France II. xciv. 418 The blessed Mary being herself a woman, and acquainted with all the weakness and delicacies of the sex.
1847 W. G. Simms Life Chevalier Bayard i. 1 Its [sc. chivalry's] strained courtesies, its overwrought delicacies, its extravagant and reckless valor.
13. A fine or elegant detail, esp. of speech or thought; (more generally) a subtle point, a nuance. Usually in plural. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [noun] > instance of
nicetya1450
galancie1581
nicery1605
refinement1683
delicacy1728
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Finesse The Substance and necessary Part of a Language is learnt at a little Expence: 'Tis the Finesses and Delicacies that cost the most.
1789 J. Stokes Let. 10 Dec. in T. J. Pettigrew Mem. Life & Writings J. C. Lettsom (1817) III. 402 In these delicacies [i.e. of medical prescription] we wish to be confirmed, or corrected by those who are real masters in their profession.
1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest V. xxiv. 524 To disregard the grammatical delicacies of the written language.
2012 C. Thomas Growing up with Langs. i. 21 She will perceive what's going on, and she will understand the delicacies of what's making it funny, but she wouldn't be able to add to it.
14. The quality or condition of requiring careful or skilful handling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [noun] > difficulty or delicacy
kittleness1578
ticklishness1583
trickleness?1605
niceness1608
nicety1707
delicacy1753
subtlety1815
tricksiness1888
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom I. 149 Ferdinand..offered his services in the way of mediation; though he observed, it was a matter of great delicacy.
1857 W. Whewell Hist. Inductive Sci. (ed. 3) I. Pref. p. vii I was aware..of the difficulty and delicacy of the office which I had undertaken.
1996 Queen's Q. Winter 729 With a naiveté astonishing for one entrusted with a diplomatic mission of the utmost delicacy, Count Folke Bernadotte embarked..upon the first United Nations mediation effort concerned with Jerusalem.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1393