delicen.

Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French delices (feminine plural; French délices ) delight (first half of the 12th cent.), something that affords pleasure (first half of the 12th cent.), riches (mid 12th cent.), sensual pleasure (early 14th cent.) < classical Latin dēliciae , plural of dēlicia (usually in plural) delight, pleasure, (in plural) toys, ornaments, decorations, culinary delicacies, physical charms, person or animal of whom one is fond, favourite place, comforts, luxuries, self-indulgence, elegant or affected manners, person of exquisite taste, gourmet < dēlicere (see below) + -ia -ia suffix¹, and partly (ii) < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French delice, French délice (masculine) delight (late 12th cent.) < classical Latin dēlicium person or animal of whom one is fond, source of delight ( < dēlicere to allure, entice, delight (see delight v.) + -ium : see -y suffix⁴). Compare delight n. and later delicies n.Compare Spanish delicia , Italian delizia (both 13th cent.), Portuguese delicia (16th cent.). The gender of French délices (plural noun) varied between masculine and feminine until the 18th cent., when the masculine became standard. Historical pronunciation. The position of the primary stress apparently varied in earlier use. (Spenser typically has stress on the first syllable: compare quot. 1590 at sense 2.)