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delicacy

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delicacy

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Delicacy  \Del"i*ca*cy\,  n.;  pl  {Delicacies}.  [From  {Delicate}, 
  a.] 
  1.  The  state  or  condition  of  being  delicate;  agreeableness  to 
  the  senses  delightfulness;  as  delicacy  of  flavor,  of 
  odor,  and  the  like 
 
  What  choice  to  choose  for  delicacy  best.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  Nicety  or  fineness  of  form  texture,  or  constitution; 
  softness;  elegance;  smoothness;  tenderness;  and  hence 
  frailty  or  weakness;  as  the  delicacy  of  a  fiber  or  a 
  thread;  delicacy  of  a  hand  or  of  the  human  form  delicacy 
  of  the  skin;  delicacy  of  frame. 
 
  3.  Nice  propriety  of  manners  or  conduct;  susceptibility  or 
  tenderness  of  feeling;  refinement;  fastidiousness;  and 
  hence  in  an  exaggerated  sense  effeminacy;  as  great 
  delicacy  of  behavior;  delicacy  in  doing  a  kindness; 
  delicacy  of  character  that  unfits  for  earnest  action 
 
  You  know  your  mother's  delicacy  in  this  point. 
  --Cowper. 
 
  4.  Addiction  to  pleasure;  luxury;  daintiness;  indulgence; 
  luxurious  or  voluptuous  treatment. 
 
  And  to  those  dainty  limbs  which  Nature  lent  For 
  gentle  usage  and  soft  delicacy?  --Milton. 
 
  5.  Nice  and  refined  perception  and  discrimination;  critical 
  niceness;  fastidious  accuracy. 
 
  That  Augustan  delicacy  of  taste  which  is  the  boast 
  of  the  great  public  schools  of  England.  --Macaulay. 
 
  6.  The  state  of  being  affected  by  slight  causes; 
  sensitiveness;  as  the  delicacy  of  a  chemist's  balance. 
 
  7.  That  which  is  alluring,  delicate,  or  refined;  a  luxury  or 
  pleasure;  something  pleasant  to  the  senses  especially  to 
  the  sense  of  taste;  a  dainty;  as  delicacies  of  the  table. 
 
  The  merchants  of  the  earth  are  waxed  rich  through 
  the  abundance  of  her  delicacies.  --Rev.  xviii. 
  3. 
 
  8.  Pleasure;  gratification;  delight.  [Obs.] 
 
  He  Rome  brent  for  his  delicacie.  --Chaucer. 
 
  Syn:  See  {Dainty}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  delicacy 
  n  1:  the  quality  of  being  beautiful  and  delicate  in  appearance; 
  "the  daintiness  of  her  touch";  "the  fineness  of  her 
  features"  [syn:  {daintiness},  {fineness}] 
  2:  something  considered  choice  to  eat  [syn:  {dainty},  {goody}, 
  {kickshaw},  {treat}] 
  3:  refined  taste;  tact  [syn:  {discretion}] 
  4:  smallness  of  stature  [syn:  {slightness}] 
  5:  lack  of  physical  strength  [syn:  {fragility}] 
  6:  subtly  skillful  handling  of  a  situation  [syn:  {diplomacy},  {discreetness}, 
  {finesse}] 
  7:  lightness  in  movement  or  manner  [syn:  {airiness}]




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