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Dainty vs Effeminate - What's the difference?

dainty | effeminate | Related terms |

Dainty is a related term of effeminate.


In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between dainty and effeminate

is that dainty is (obsolete) excellent; valuable, fine while effeminate is (obsolete) womanly; tender.

As adjectives the difference between dainty and effeminate

is that dainty is (obsolete) excellent; valuable, fine while effeminate is (often|derogatory|of a man or boy) having behaviour or mannerisms considered unmasculine or typical of a woman or girl; feminine.

As a noun dainty

is (obsolete) esteem, honour.

As a verb effeminate is

(archaic) to make womanly; to unman.

dainty

English

Noun

(dainties)
  • (obsolete) Esteem, honour.
  • A delicacy.
  • * 1719 , (Daniel Defoe), (Robinson Crusoe)
    • my case was deplorable enough, yet I had great cause for thankfulness that I was not driven to any extremities for food, but had rather plenty, even to dainties .
  • * (William Cowper)
    • [A table] furnished plenteously with bread, / And dainties , remnants of the last regale.
  • (Canada, Prairies and northwestern Ontario) A fancy cookie, pastry, or square served at a social event (usually plural).
  • (obsolete)
    • (Ben Jonson)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (obsolete) Excellent; valuable, fine.
  • *, II.13:
    • Heliogabalus the most dissolute man of the world, amidst his most riotous sensualities, intended, whensoever occasion should force him to it, to have a daintie death.
  • Elegant; delicately small and pretty.
  • * Milton
    • Those dainty limbs which nature lent / For gentle usage and soft delicacy.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=However, with the dainty volume my quondam friend sprang into fame. At the same time he cast off the chrysalis of a commonplace existence.}}
  • Fastidious and fussy, especially when eating.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • They were a fine and dainty people.
  • * Shakespeare
    • And let us not be dainty of leave taking, / But shift away.

    Synonyms

    * neat * petite

    References

    *

    effeminate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (often, derogatory, of a man or boy) Having behaviour or mannerisms considered unmasculine or typical of a woman or girl; feminine.
  • * Bishop Hurd
    • An effeminate and unmanly foppery.
  • (obsolete) womanly; tender
  • * Shakespeare
    • Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse.

    Synonyms

    * camp * swish

    Verb

    (effeminat)
  • (archaic) To make womanly; to unman.
  • * , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.134:
    • the studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre.
  • * John Locke
    • It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds.

    Related terms

    * effeminacy ----