delicatenessn.
/ˈdɛlᵻkətnəs/, U.S. /ˈdɛlᵻkətnəs/ The quality of being delicate (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [noun]
delicacya1393
savourinessa1398
deliciousnessa1450
delicateness?1529
daintiness1552
toothsomeness1612
piquantness1648
palatableness1721
tastefulness1727
fumet1735
lightness1799
palatability1850
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
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
the world > health and disease > ill health > [noun] > weakness > of constitution
delicacya1586
delicateness1678
?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman i. ix. sig. I.iiij The more hit [sc. the body] is cherisshed, the more hit ryseth and rebelleth agaynst the soule, and lyke a tyrant ruleth all the man, and draweth al vnto vile fantasy, where the seate is of his delicatnes.
1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 61 They which delight in delicatenesse may bee satisfied with as delicate dishes there, as may be found els where.
1678 Spanish Hist. 21 The delicateness of our Young Prince suffered him not to bear the Fatigue.
1789 E. Wynne Diary 17 Mar. in A. Fremantle Wynne Diaries (1935) I. vii. 121 The Queen had the delicateness not to wish that she should show her gratitude on front of the world.
1873 Daily News 21 Aug. 5/3 To borrow the delicateness of..[this] French idiom.
2017 New Castle (Pennsylvania) News (Nexis) 7 Aug. ‘I like plants with pretty foliage,’ she said, noting that she loves ferns for their delicateness and lacy leaves.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.?1529