different between breakable vs dainty

English

Etymology

break +? -able

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?e?k?bl/

Adjective

breakable (comparative more breakable, superlative most breakable)

1. Able to break or be broken.
2. Fragile.

Synonyms

• destructible
• See Thesaurus:fragile

Antonyms

• unbreakable

Translations

Noun

breakable (plural breakables)

1. Something that is (easily) breakable.

   We had to wrap all the breakables before the movers arrived.

2. (usually in the plural, music) A set of customized hardware that is part of a drum kit. Breakables typically consist of: the drummer's cymbals including high-hats, the snare drum, the kick pedal and the drummer's stool.

Usage notes

• May be more common as breakables, the group of things that are easily broken.

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English deynte, from Old French deintié, from Latin dignit?tem. Doublet of dignity.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?de?nti/
• Rhymes: -e?nti

Noun

dainty (plural dainties)

1. A delicacy (in taste).
   • 1791, William Cowper, The Odyssey of Homer
2. (obsolete) Esteem, honour.
3. (Canada, Prairies and northwestern Ontario) A fancy cookie, pastry, or square, typically homemade, served at a social event (usually plural).
4. (obsolete) An affectionate term of address.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ben Jonson to this entry?)

Related terms

Translations

Adjective

dainty (comparative daintier, superlative daintiest)

1. (obsolete) Excellent; valuable, fine.
2. Elegant; delicately small and pretty.
3. Fastidious and fussy, especially when eating.
   • 1623, Francis Bacon, An Advertisement touching an Holy War

Synonyms

• neat
• petite

Derived terms

• daintily
• daintiness

Translations

References

• “dainty” in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 2004.