Dēl'ī·ca·cy, n.

n. [From delicate, a., q. v. Cf. Fr. délicatesse, It. delicatezza, Sp. delicadeza.]

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. Extreme propriety, exactness, or nicety of manners or conduct; susceptibility or tenderness of feeling; fastidiousness; and hence, 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 on this point. Cowper.

4. Addiction to pleasure; luxury; daintiness; self-indulgence.
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. That which is pleasing, delicate, or refined; a luxury or pleasure. Our delicacies are grown capital, And even our sports are dangers. B. Jonson.

7. Something pleasant to the senses, especially that of taste; a dainty; as, delicacies of the table.
8. Pleasure; gratification; delight. [Obs.]

He Rome burnt for his delicacy. Chaucer. Syn.—See DAINTY.