delicacy

nounattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈdɛlɪkəsi//

The quality of being delicate.

noun

1
The quality of being delicate.
[…] for unless a matter be true enough to stand a good deal of misrepresentation, its truth is not of a very robust order, and the blame will rather lie with its own delicacy than with the carelessness of the crusher.
2
Something appealing, usually a pleasing food, especially a choice dish of a certain culture suggesting rarity and refinement.
a Chinese delicacy
3
Fineness or elegance of construction or appearance.
4
Frailty of health or fitness.
5
Refinement in taste or discrimination.
6
Tact and propriety; the need for such tact.

Etymology

From Middle English delicacie, from Middle English delicat, from Latin delicatus. Equivalent to delic(ate) + -acy.

Forms

plural: delicacies

Delia · A female given name from Ancient Greek.deliberate · Done on purpose; intentional.deliberately · Intentionally, or after deliberation; not accidentally.

delicacy · The quality of being delicate.

delicate · Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.delicious · Pleasing to the sense of taste; tasty.delight · Joy; pleasure.

The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.