Chapter Deletion to Delineable of D by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.

12. Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.

13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.

Delicate
(Del"i*cate), n.

1. A choice dainty; a delicacy. [R.]

With abstinence all delicates he sees.

Dryden.

2. A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.

All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, — those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, — are only of the Corinth metal.

Holland.

Delicately
(Del"i*cate*ly) adv. In a delicate manner.

Delicateness
(Del"i*cate*ness), n. The quality of being delicate.

Delices
(Del"i*ces) n. pl. [F. délices, fr. L. deliciae.] Delicacies; delights. [Obs.] "Dainty delices." Spenser.

Deliciate
(De*li"ci*ate) v. t. To delight one's self; to indulge in feasting; to revel. [Obs.]

Delicious
(De*li"cious) a. [OF. delicieus, F. délicieux, L. deliciosus, fr. deliciae delight, fr. delicere to allure. See Delight.]

1. Affording exquisite pleasure; delightful; most sweet or grateful to the senses, especially to the taste; charming.

Some delicious landscape.

Coleridge.

One draught of spring's delicious air.

Keble.

Were not his words delicious?

Tennyson.

2. Addicted to pleasure; seeking enjoyment; luxurious; effeminate. [Obs.]

Others, lastly, of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire themselves to the enjoyments of ease and luxury.

Milton.

Syn. — Delicious, Delightful. Delicious refers to the pleasure derived from certain of the senses, particularly the taste and smell; as, delicious food; a delicious fragrance. Delightful may also refer to most of the senses (as, delightful music; a delightful prospect; delightful sensations), but has a higher application to matters of taste, feeling, and sentiment; as, a delightful abode, conversation, employment; delightful scenes, etc.

Like the rich fruit he sings, delicious in decay.

Smith.

No spring, nor summer, on the mountain seen,
Smiles with gay fruits or with delightful green.

Addison.

Deliciously
(De*li"cious*ly), adv. Delightfully; as, to feed deliciously; to be deliciously entertained.

Deliciousness
(De*li"cious*ness), n.

1. The quality of being delicious; as, the deliciousness of a repast.