delicate

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English delicat, from Latin dēlicātus (“giving pleasure, delightful, soft, luxurious, delicate, (in Medieval Latin also) fine, slender”), from dēlicia +‎ -ātus (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), usually in plural dēliciae (“pleasure, delight, luxury”), from dēliciō (“to allure, entice”), from dē- (“away”) + laciō (“to lure, to deceive”), from Proto-Italic *lakjō (“to draw, pull”), of unknown ultimate origin. Compare delight, delicious and Spanish delgado (“thin, skinny”). The noun is from a substantivization of the adjective (see -ate). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈdɛl.ɪ.kət/ (General American, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈdɛl.ɪ.kɪt/, /ˈdɛl.ə.kɪt/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈdel.ɪ.kɪt/ === Adjective === delicate (comparative more delicate or delicater, superlative most delicate or delicatest) Easily damaged or requiring careful handling. Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines. Intended for use with fragile items. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings. Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship. (informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol. (obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring. Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful. Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious. Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes. ==== Synonyms ==== (easily damaged): fragile ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== delicacy delicately delicatessen delicious delight ==== Descendants ==== → Japanese: デリケート (derikēto) ==== Translations ==== === Noun === delicate (plural delicates) A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie. (obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy. (obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person. A moth of the species Mythimna vitellina. === Further reading === “delicate”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “delicate”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. == Italian == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /de.liˈka.te/ Rhymes: -ate Hyphenation: de‧li‧cà‧te === Adjective === delicate f pl feminine plural of delicato === Anagrams === dateceli == Latin == === Adjective === dēlicāte vocative masculine singular of dēlicātus === References === “delicate”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press “delicate”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers “delicate”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette. == Romanian == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /deliˈkate/ === Adjective === delicate feminine/neuter plural nominative/accusative of delicat