What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Kindly vs Delicate - What's the difference?

kindly | delicate |

As adjectives the difference between kindly and delicate

is that kindly is having a kind personality while delicate is .

As an adverb kindly

is in a kind manner, out of kindness.

kindly

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Having a kind personality.
    • A kindly old man sits on the park bench every afternoon feeding pigeons.
  • * Tennyson
    • The shade by which my life was crossed has made me kindly with my kind.
  • (obsolete) Favourable; gentle; auspicious; beneficent.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • In soft silence shed the kindly shower.
  • * Wordsworth
    • should e'er a kindlier time ensue
  • (obsolete) natural
  • * Book of Common Prayer
    • the kindly fruits of the earth
  • * Spenser
    • an herd of bulls whom kindly rage doth sting
  • * L. Andrews
    • Whatsoever as the Son of God he may do, it is kindly for Him as the Son of Man to save the sons of men.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a kind manner, out of kindness.
    • He kindly offered to take us to the station in his car.
  • * 1900 , L. Frank Baum , The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23
    • She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.
  • in a favourable way.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 29 , author=Neil Johnston , title=Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Aguero was quick to block Hennessey's attempted clearance and the ball bounced kindly to Dzeko, who had the simplest of tasks to put City ahead.}}
  • Please; (used to make a polite request).
    • Kindly refrain from walking on the grass.
    Kindly move your car out of the front yard.
  • (US) With kind acceptance; .
    • I don't take kindly to threats.
    Aunt Daisy didn't take it kindly when we forgot her anniversary.

    Usage notes

    * (please) Kindly is used in a slightly more peremptory way than please. It is generally used to introduce a request with which the person addressed is expected to comply, and takes the edge off what would otherwise be a command. * (with kind acceptance) This sense is a ; it is usually found in questions and negative statements, as in the above example sentences.

    Synonyms

    * (in a kind manner) thoughtfully * (used to make polite requests) be so kind as to, please

    delicate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
    • Those clothes are made from delicate lace.
    The negotiations were very delicate .
  • * F. W. Robertson
    • There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=April 23 , author=Angelique Chrisafis , title=François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=The final vote between Hollande and Sarkozy now depends on a delicate balance of how France's total of rightwing and leftwing voters line up.}}
  • Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.
    • Her face was delicate .
    The spider wove a delicate web.
    There was a delicate pattern of frost on the window.
  • Intended for use with fragile items.
    • Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle.
  • Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings.
    • delicate''' behaviour; '''delicate''' attentions; '''delicate thoughtfulness
  • Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.
    • a delicate''' child; '''delicate health
  • * Shakespeare
    • a delicate and tender prince
  • (informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.
    • Please don't speak so loudly: I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning.
  • (obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
  • * 1360–1387 , (William Langland), (Piers Plowman) (C-text), passus IX, line 285:
    • Þenk þat diues for hus delicat lyf to þe deuel wente.
  • * circa'' 1660 , (John Evelyn) (author), , volume I of II (1901), entry for the 19th of August in 1641, page 29:
    • Haerlem is a very delicate town and hath one of the fairest churches of the Gothic design I had ever seen.
  • Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.
    • a delicate''' dish; '''delicate flavour
  • Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.
  • * circa'' 1603 , (William Shakespeare), ''(Othello) , act II, scene iii, lines 18 and 20–21:
    • :   She’s a most exquisite lady.…Indeed, she’s a most fresh and delicate creature.
  • Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.
    • a delicate shade of blue
  • Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
  • Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.
    • a delicate''' taste; a '''delicate ear for music
  • Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.
    • a delicate thermometer

    Related terms

    * delicacy * delicately * delicatessen * delicious * delight

    Synonyms

    * (easily damaged) fragile

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.
    • Don't put that in with your jeans: it's a delicate !
  • (obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy.
    • With abstinence all delicates he sees. — Dryden.
  • (obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
    • All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, — those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbours, — are only of the Corinth metal. — Holland.

    External links

    * * ----