Delicate

a. [Lat. delicatus, pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft and tender, from deliciæ, delight; It. delicato, Sp. & Pg. delicado, Pr. delicat, Fr. délicat. See DELIGHT.]

1Sense 1. Full of pleasure; delightful; luxurious. Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went. Piers Plowman. Haarlem is a very delicate town. Evelyn.

2Sense 2. Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.

3Sense 3. Light or softly tinted;—said of a color; as, a delicate blue.

4Sense 4. Fine or slender;—said of a thread; as, delicate cotton.

5Sense 5. Slight or smooth; light and yielding;—said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.

6Sense 6. Soft and fair;—said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.

7Sense 7. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate;—said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.

8Sense 8. Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate;—said of constitution, health, &c.; as, a delicate child; delicate health. “A delicate and tender prince.” Shak.

9Sense 9. Requiring nice handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.

There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth. F. W. Robertson.

10Sense 10. Addicted to pleasure; of voluptuous life; luxurious; of exacting tastes and habits; dainty.

11Sense 11. Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; nice; as, a delicate ear for music.

n. 1. Something pleasant or delicate; a delicacy or nicety. [Rare.]

With abstinence all delicates he sees. Dryden.

2Sense 2. A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.

All the vessels, then, which our delicates have,—those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors,—are only of the Corinth metal. Holland.