Part 2730

<i>B. Jonson.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Dainty</er>, <er>Delicacy</er>.</syn> <usage> These words are here compared as denoting articles of food. The term <i>delicacy</i> as applied to a nice article of any kind, and hence to articles of food which are particularly attractive. <i>Dainty</i> is stronger, and denotes some exquisite article of cookery. A hotel may be provided with all the <i>delicacies</i> of the season, and its table richly covered with <i>dainties</i>.</usage>

<blockquote>These <b>delicacies</b> I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, Walks and the melody of birds. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>[A table] furnished plenteously with bread, And <b>dainties</b>, remnants of the last regale. <i>Cowper.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dainty</h1> <Xpage=364>

<hw>Dain"ty</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Compar.</tt> <er>Daintier</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Daintiest</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Rare; valuable; costly.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Full many a <b>deynt\'82</b> horse had he in stable. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; Hence the proverb "<i>dainty maketh dearth</i>," <i>i</i>. <i>e</i>., rarity makes a thing dear or precious.</note>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Delicious to the palate; toothsome.</def>

<blockquote><b>Dainty</b> bits Make rich the ribs. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Nice; delicate;elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender.</def>

<blockquote>Those <b>dainty</b> limbs which nature lent For gentle usage and soft delicacy. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Iwould be the girdle. About her <b>dainty</b>, <b>dainty</b> waist. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Requirinig daintles. Hence; Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; sqrupulous; ceremonious.</def>

<blockquote>Thew were a fine and <b>Dainty</b> people. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And let us not be <b>dainty</b> of leave taking, But shift away. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>To make dainty</col>, <cd>to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. <mark>[Obs.]</mark></cd></cs>

<blockquote>Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all Will now deny to dance? She that <b>makes dainty</b>, She, I'll swear, hath corns. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dairy</h1> <Xpage=364>

<hw>Dai"ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>;<plu>pl. <plw>Dairies</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[OE. <ets>deierie</ets>, from <ets>deie</ets>, <ets>daie</ets>, maid; of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. <ets>deigja</ets> maid, dairymaid, Sw. <ets>deja</ets>, orig., a baking maid, fr. Icel. <ets>deig</ets>. <?/66. See <er>Dough</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The place, room, or house where milk is kept, and converted into butter or cheese.</def>

<blockquote>What stores my <b>dairies</b> and my folds contain. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That department of farming which is concerned in the production of milk, and its conversion into butter and cheese.</def>

<blockquote>Grounds were turned much in England either to feeding or <b>dairy</b>; and this advanced the trade of English butter. <i>Temple.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A dairy farm.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<note>&hand; <i>Dairy</i> is much used adjectively or in combination; as, <i>dairy</i> farm, <i>dairy</i> countries, <i>dairy</i> house or <i>dairy</i>house, <i>dairy</i>room, <i>dairy</i>work, etc.</note>

<h1>Dairying</h1> <Xpage=364>

<hw>Dai"ry*ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The business of conducting a dairy.</def>

<h1>Dairymaid</h1> <Xpage=364>