| delicious | 1. Affording exquisite pleasure; delightful; most sweet or grateful to the senses, especially to the taste; charming. "Some delicious landscape." (Coleridge) "One draught of spring's delicious air." (Keble) "Were not his words delicious?" (Tennyson) 2. Addicted to pleasure; seeking enjoyment; luxurious; effeminate. "Others, lastly, of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire themselves to the enjoyments of ease and luxury." (Milton) Synonym: Delicious, Delightful. Delicious refers to the pleasure derived from certain of the senses, particularly the taste and smell; as, delicious food; a delicious fragrance. Delightful may also refer to most of the senses (as, delightful music; a delightful prospect; delightful sensations), but has a higher application to matters of taste, feeling, and sentiment; as, a delightful abode, conversation, employment; delightful scenes, etc. "Like the rich fruit he sings, delicious in decay." (Smith) "No spring, nor summer, on the mountain seen, Smiles with gay fruits or with delightful green." (Addison) Origin: OF. Delicieus, F. Delicieux, L. Deliciosus, fr. Deliciae delight, fr. Delicere to allure. See Delight. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|