dainty
/ˈdeɪnti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdeɪnti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdān-tē/ (ame, mw)
dainty — adjective
- daintypositive
- daintiercomparative
- daintiestsuperlative
1. small, pretty, and so finely made or moving so gently that the thing or person s
small, pretty, and so finely made or moving so gently that the thing or person seems easy to break or hurt
Mizuki placed her dainty silver earrings into a small velvet box.
dainty + small precious object
The ballerina took dainty steps across the wooden stage during her solo.
dainty + steps / movement
Hugo's grandmother served the tea in a set of dainty porcelain cups.
Isabela admired the dainty white flowers growing along the garden wall.
The newborn kitten had four dainty paws and a soft pink nose.
用法筆記
Often describes objects (cups, jewellery, flowers) or body parts (hands, feet, paws) whose appeal lies in being small and delicate. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is purely about physical form, not behaviour at the table.
常見錯誤
2. of food, having a fine taste or being arranged on the plate in a careful, attrac
of food, having a fine taste or being arranged on the plate in a careful, attractive way
Hassan prepared a dainty plate of cucumber sandwiches for the afternoon tea.
dainty + small prepared food
Each guest received a dainty pastry shaped like a tiny pink rose.
The chef arranged dainty slices of smoked salmon along the edge of the platter.
Lakshmi made dainty rice balls and packed them carefully into the lunchbox.
- delectable
stronger emphasis on delicious taste, less on visual presentation
- exquisite
praises the skill of preparation more than the small size
用法筆記
Sounds slightly old-fashioned or formal; common in food-writing, tea-room menus, and Victorian-era fiction. Object is almost always food itself or food-serving (sandwiches, pastries, slices, portions).
3. behaving in a very polite, careful way when eating or choosing food, sometimes t
behaving in a very polite, careful way when eating or choosing food, sometimes too much so
Gabriel took dainty bites of the steak, trying not to drop sauce on his shirt.
dainty + bite / way of eating
Christopher is a dainty eater who refuses any dish with strong garlic.
dainty + eater (person who is fussy)
Hoa nibbled the cake in dainty mouthfuls so her lipstick stayed neat.
Stephanie was too dainty to eat the chicken wings with her fingers like the rest of the table.
- finicky
more common in everyday speech; clearly negative tone
- fussy
everyday word for the same idea; not limited to food
- fastidious
formal; covers more than just eating (cleanliness, work, dress)
用法筆記
Often carries a faintly critical tone — the eater is being a bit precious. Distinguish from sense 1 (about how something LOOKS) by checking whether the word describes a person's eating BEHAVIOUR or social manners.
常見錯誤
dainty — noun
1. a small piece of especially good or carefully prepared food, often sweet, eaten
a small piece of especially good or carefully prepared food, often sweet, eaten as a treat
Yara passed around a tray of sweet dainties at the end of the wedding meal.
plural use: dainties (small treats)
Michael brought home a box of chocolate dainties from the famous Paris shop.
The bakery window displayed rows of colourful dainties beside the freshly baked bread.
Aunt Élise always saved a few almond dainties for the children's visit.
用法筆記
Almost always plural (`dainties`). Sounds old-fashioned or literary today — most modern speakers say `treats`, `nibbles`, or name the specific food. Found often in older novels and recipe books.
2. something chosen for being especially fine or pleasing, not always food
something chosen for being especially fine or pleasing, not always food
Liang collected literary dainties — first editions and rare poems — from second-hand shops.
dainties of an interest / hobby
The museum displayed several painted dainties from the queen's private jewellery box.
Rohan saved the rare jazz recordings as musical dainties for quiet Sunday evenings.
The poet's letters are dainties for any scholar studying nineteenth-century romance.
用法筆記
Used mainly in literary or scholarly writing for prized non-food objects — books, recordings, art pieces. The food sense (noun/1) is more common; this extended sense is rare.
3. the quality of being very careful, polite, or particular, especially about food
the quality of being very careful, polite, or particular, especially about food or behaviour
Bilal ate with such dainty that he barely touched his food at the dinner.
with + dainty (uncountable abstract noun)
The old novel mocks the dainty of upper-class guests who refuse perfectly good soup.
literary use of the noun (dainty of + group)
Mizuki's dainty about restaurant cleanliness drove her friends a little mad.
Hassan's dainty around small portions made him a poor guest at his grandmother's table.
- fastidiousness
the modern formal equivalent; far more common
- fussiness
everyday word; clearly disapproving
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English — most speakers use `fastidiousness`, `fussiness`, or `particularness` instead. Mainly found in older texts; understanding it helps with Victorian or early-twentieth-century literature.