\Dain"ty\, n.; pl. {Dainties}. [OE. deinie, dainte,
deintie, deyntee, OF. deinti['e] delicacy, orig., dignity,
honor, fr. L. dignitas, fr. dignus worthy. See {Deign}, and
cf. {Dignity}.]
1. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in
   anything. [Obs.]
         I ne told no deyntee of her love.     --Chaucer.
2. That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy.
         That precious nectar may the taste renew Of Eden's
         dainties, by our parents lost.        --Beau. & Fl.
3. A term of fondness. [Poetic] --B. Jonson.
Syn: {Dainty}, {Delicacy}.
Usage: These words are here compared as denoting articles of
       food. The term delicacy as applied to a nice article
       of any kind, and hence to articles of food which are
       particularly attractive. Dainty is stronger, and
       denotes some exquisite article of cookery. A hotel may
       be provided with all the delicacies of the season, and
       its table richly covered with dainties.
             These delicacies I mean of taste, sight, smell,
             herbs, fruits, and flowers, Walks and the melody
             of birds.                         --Milton.
             [A table] furnished plenteously with bread, And
             dainties, remnants of the last regale. --Cowper.

\Dain"ty\, a. [Compar. {Daintier}; superl. {Daintiest}.]
1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]
         Full many a deynt['e] horse had he in stable.
                                               --Chaucer.
Note: Hence the proverb ``dainty maketh dearth,'' i. e.,
      rarity makes a thing dear or precious.
2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome.
         Dainty bits Make rich the ribs.       --Shak.
3. Nice; delicate; elegant, in form, manner, or breeding;
   well-formed; neat; tender.
         Those dainty limbs which nature lent For gentle
         usage and soft delicacy.              --Milton.
         I would be the girdle. About her dainty, dainty
         waist.                                --Tennyson.
4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please;
   fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; ceremonious.
         Thew were a fine and dainty people.   --Bacon.
         And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift
         away.                                 --Shak.
{To make dainty}, to assume or affect delicacy or
   fastidiousness. [Obs.]
         Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all Will now deny
         to dance? She that makes dainty, She, I'll swear,
         hath corns.                           --Shak.