I ne told no deyntee of her love. Chaucer.

That precious nectar may the taste renew
Of Eden's dainties, by our parents lost. Beau. *** Fl.

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

These delicacies
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,
Walks and the melody of birds. Milton.

[A table] furnished plenteously with bread,
And dainties, remnants of the last regale. Cowper.

Full many a deynté horse had he in stable. Chaucer.

* Hence the proverb "dainty maketh dearth," i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious.

Dainty bits
Make rich the ribs. Shak.

Those dainty limbs which nature lent
For gentle usage and soft delicacy. Milton.

I would be the girdle.
About her dainty, dainty waist. Tennyson.

Thew were a fine and dainty people. Bacon.

And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away. Shak.

To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [Obs.]

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