Part 130

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.

Del"i*cate (?), a. [L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. délicat. See Delight.] 1. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring. [R.]

Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went.

Piers Plowman.

Haarlem is a very delicate town.

Evelyn.

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.

3. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate creature." Shak.

4. Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; -- said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.

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

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

7. Light, or softly tinted; -- said of a color; as, a delicate blue.

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

9. Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; -- said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.

A delicate and tender prince.

Shak.

10. Requiring careful 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.