Etymology of the English word dainty
the English word
daintyderived from the Old French word
deintiederived from the Latin word
dignitas (rank, status; merit; worth, excellence; fitness)
derived from the Latin word
dignus (appropriate, suitable; worthy)
derived from the Late Latin word
decere (it is fitting, right, seemly)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*dek-Date
The earliest known usage of dainty in English dates from the 13th century.
Usage
Word found in Modern English
