Delicateness
/ˈdɛlɪkətnəs/noun
The quality of being delicate; fineness, fragility, or subtle sensitivity.
Did you know?Delicateness ultimately comes from Latin *delicatus*, a word tied to being pampered or dainty, and English later built the noun with the suffix *-ness* to name that state.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leig-
“to bind; to tie together”
Latin
Latin
delicatus
“dainty, delightful, luxurious, pampered”
Late Latin
Latin
delicātitās
“daintiness, fineness, luxury”
Old French
Old French
delicatesse
“delicacy, refinement”
Middle English
English
delicatnesse
“the quality of being delicate”
Modern English
English
delicateness
“the quality or state of being delicate”
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