Standard Lemma guide

daintiness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˈdeɪntɪnəs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The characteristic of being dainty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A dainty behaviour or gesture.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the daintiness of her touch
  • the fineness of her features

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: delicacy, fineness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: elegance

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English dainty Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English daintiness From dainty + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: aantrekkelijkheid — characteristic of being dainty
  • Turkish: lezzet — characteristic of being dainty