An air of robustness and strength is very prejudicial to beauty

An appearance of delicacy, and even of fragility, is almost e ential to it. Burke, Sublime and Beautiful. She had been in feeble health ever since we left, and her increasing delicacy was beginning to alarm her friends, J. T. Trow bridge, Coupon Bonds, p. 376. 12t. The quality of being addicted to pleasure; voluptuousne of life; luxuriousne . Of the seconde glotonie Which cleped is delicacie , Wherof ye spake here to fore, Beseche I wolde you therefore. Gower, Conf. Amant., VI. 13t. Pleasure; a diversion; a luxury. He Rome brente for his delicacie . Chaucer, Monk's Tale, 1. 489. Our delicacies are grown capital, And even our sports are dangers. B. Jonson, To a Friend. =Syn. 2. Daintine , savorine .-3. Delicacy, Dainty , Tidbit. A delicacy is specifically something very choice for eating; it may be cooked, dre ed, or in the natural state: as, his table was abundantly supplied with all the delica cies of the season; the appetite of the sick man had to be coaxed with delicacies . Dainty is a stronger word, indicating something even more choice. A tidbit is a particularly choice or delicious morsel, a small quantity taken from a larger on account of its excellence. delicate (del'i-kāt), a . and n. [ delicate , delicat , delicat , F. délicat = Pr. delicat = Sp. Pg. delicado = It. delicato (cf. ME. delie , delge , deuge , the vernacular form, Pr. delguat = Sp. Pg. delgado , fine, slender), delicatus , giving pleasure, delightful, soft, luxurious, delicate, ML. also fine, slender, delicia , usually in pl. deliciæ , pleasure, delight, luxury, delicere , allure, de , away, + lacere , allure, entice. From the same source are delicious , delectable , and delight , q. v.] I. a . 1. Pleasing to any of the senses, especially to the sense of taste; dainty; delicious: opposed to coarse or rough .