different between sweet vs fine
sweet
English
Etymology
From Middle English sweete, swete, from Old English sw?te (“sweet”), from Proto-West Germanic *sw?t?, from Proto-Germanic *sw?tuz (“sweet”), from Proto-Indo-European *swéh?dus (“sweet”).
Cognate and synonymous with Scots sweit, North Frisian sweete, West Frisian swiet, Low German sööt, Dutch zoet, German süß, Danish sød, Swedish söt, Norwegian søt, Latin su?vis, Sanskrit ?????? (sv?dú), Ancient Greek ???? (h?dús). Doublet of suave.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /swi?t/
- (General American) IPA(key): /swit/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /swi?t/
- Rhymes: -i?t
- Homophone: suite
Adjective
sweet (comparative sweeter, superlative sweetest)
- Having a pleasant taste, especially one relating to the basic taste sensation induced by sugar.
- Having a taste of sugar.
- 2018 May 16, Adam Rogers, Wired, "The Fundamental Nihilism of Yanny vs. Laurel":
- A few types of molecules get sensed by receptors on the tongue. Protons coming off of acids ping receptors for "sour." Sugars get received as "sweet." Bitter, salty, and the proteinaceous flavor umami all set off their own neural cascades.
- 2018 May 16, Adam Rogers, Wired, "The Fundamental Nihilism of Yanny vs. Laurel":
- (wine) Retaining a portion of sugar.
- Not having a salty taste.
- Having a pleasant smell.
- 1838, Longfellow, "Voices of the Night: The Reaper and the Flowers":
- The breath of these flowers is sweet to me.
- 1838, Longfellow, "Voices of the Night: The Reaper and the Flowers":
- Not decaying, fermented, rancid, sour, spoiled, or stale.
- Having a pleasant sound.
- 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, A Scarlet Letter, Ticknor and Fields, page 135:
- a voice sweet, tremulous, but powerful
- 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, A Scarlet Letter, Ticknor and Fields, page 135:
- Having a pleasing disposition.
- Having a helpful disposition.
- (mineralogy) Free from excessive unwanted substances like acid or sulphur.
- (informal) Very pleasing; agreeable.
- 14 November 2014, Steven Haliday, Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Maloney the hero
- GORDON Strachan enjoyed the sweetest of his 16 matches in charge of Scotland so far as his team enhanced their prospects of Euro 2016 qualification with a crucial and deserved victory over Republic of Ireland.
- 14 November 2014, Steven Haliday, Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Maloney the hero
- (slang) Doing well; in a good or happy position.
- (informal, followed by on) Romantically fixated, enamoured with, fond of
- The attraction was mutual and instant; they were sweet on one another from first sight.
- (obsolete) Fresh; not salt or brackish.
- 1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or A Natural History, in The Works of Francis Bacon (1826), page 66
- The white of an egg, or blood mingled with salt water, doth gather the saltness and maketh the water sweeter; this may be by adhesion.
- 1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or A Natural History, in The Works of Francis Bacon (1826), page 66
- Pleasing to the eye; beautiful; mild and attractive; fair.
- 1667, John Milton, Paradise lost (source), Samuel Simmons, page 278:
- Sweet interchange / Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains.
- 1667, John Milton, Paradise lost (source), Samuel Simmons, page 278:
Synonyms
- (having a taste of sugar): saccharine, sugary
- (containing a sweetening ingredient): sugared, sweetened
- (not having a salty taste): fresh, unsalty
- (having a pleasant smell): fragrant, odoriferous, odorous, perfumed, scented, sweet-scented, sweet-smelling
- (not decaying, fermented, rancid, sour, spoiled, or stale): fresh, unfermented, wholesome
- (having a pleasant sound): dulcet, honeyed, mellifluous, mellisonant
- (having a pleasing disposition): cute, lovable, pleasant
- (having a helpful disposition): kind, gracious, helpful, sensitive, thoughtful
- ((informal) very pleasing): rad, awesome, wicked
Antonyms
- (having a pleasant taste): bitter, sour, salty
- (containing a sweetening ingredient): nonsweet, sugarless, unsugared, unsweetened, unsweet
- (of wines: retaining a portion of natural sugar): dry
- (not decaying, fermented, rancid, sour, spoiled, or stale): decaying, fermented, rancid, sour, spoiled, stale
- (not having a salty taste): salty, savoury
- (free from excessive unwanted substances): sour
- ((informal) very pleasing): lame, uncool
Derived terms
Translations
See sweet/translations § Adjective.
Interjection
sweet
- Used as a positive response to good news or information.
- They're making a sequel? Ah, sweet!
Adverb
sweet (comparative more sweet, superlative most sweet)
- In a sweet manner.
- 1598, Shakespeare, Love's Labour Lost, Act 1 Scene 1:
- "and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage."
- (and, my child, allow them sweetly to be men with good reputations and conduct)
- "and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage."
- 1598, Shakespeare, Love's Labour Lost, Act 1 Scene 1:
Synonyms
- (in a sweet manner): sweetly
Translations
Noun
sweet (countable and uncountable, plural sweets)
- (uncountable) The basic taste sensation induced by sugar.
- (countable, Britain) A confection made from sugar, or high in sugar content; a candy.
- (countable, Britain) A food eaten for dessert.
- Can we see the sweet menu, please?
- Sweetheart; darling.
- Wherefore frowns my sweet?
- (obsolete) That which is sweet or pleasant in odour; a perfume.
- (obsolete) Sweetness, delight; something pleasant to the mind or senses.
- 1613, John Marston, William Barksted, The Insatiate Countess, III.2:
- Fear's fire to fervency, which makes love's sweet prove nectar.
- 1613, John Marston, William Barksted, The Insatiate Countess, III.2:
Synonyms
- (sweet taste sensation): See sweetness
- (food that is high in sugar content): bonbon, candy (US), confection, confectionery, lolly (Australia)
- (food eaten for dessert): See dessert
Derived terms
- spoon sweet
- sweet shop / sweetshop
Translations
Verb
sweet (third-person singular simple present sweets, present participle sweeting, simple past and past participle sweeted)
- (obsolete or poetic) To sweeten.
Anagrams
- weest, weets
Afrikaans
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sv???t/
Etymology 1
From Dutch zweet, from Middle Dutch sweet, from Old Dutch *sweit, *sw?t, from Proto-Germanic *swait-, from Proto-Indo-European *sweyd-.
Noun
sweet (uncountable)
- sweat
Etymology 2
From Dutch zweten, from Middle Dutch swêten.
Verb
sweet (present sweet, present participle swetende, past participle gesweet)
- to sweat
Middle Dutch
Etymology
From Old Dutch *sw?t, from Proto-Germanic *swait-.
Noun
swêet n
- sweat, perspiration
Inflection
This noun needs an inflection-table template.
Alternative forms
- sweit
Derived terms
- swêten
Descendants
- Dutch: zweet
- Limburgish: zweit
Further reading
- “sweet”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
- Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929) , “sweet”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, ?ISBN
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fine
English
Etymology 1
From Middle English fin, fyn, from Old French fin (“fine, minute, exact”), of obscure origin, but probably derived from Latin f?n?re (“to finish”) and/or f?nis (“boundary, limit, end”), with an abstract sense of "fine" or "thin" also arising in many Romance languages (compare Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian fino). Doublet of fino.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /fa?n/,
- Rhymes: -a?n
- (Tasmanian) IPA(key): /fæ?n/
Adjective
fine (comparative finer, superlative finest)
- Senses referring to subjective quality.
- Of superior quality.
- "A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there. […]."
- Synonyms: good, excellent
- (informal) Being acceptable, adequate, passable, or satisfactory.
- Synonyms: all right, ok, o.k., okay, hunky-dory, kosher
- (informal) Good-looking, attractive.
- Subtle, delicately balanced or discriminated.
- (obsolete) Showy; overdecorated.
- 1853, Matthew Arnold, Preface to The Poems of Matthew Arnold
- They will permit the poet to select any action he pleases, and to suffer that action to go as it will, provided he gratifies them with occasional bursts of fine writing
- 1853, Matthew Arnold, Preface to The Poems of Matthew Arnold
- Delicate; subtle; exquisite; artful; dexterous.
- c. 1692, John Dryden, Discourse on Satire
- The nicest and most delicate touches of satire consist in fine raillery.
- 1728, John Gay, The Beggar's Opera
- He has as fine a hand at picking a pocket as a woman.
- c. 1692, John Dryden, Discourse on Satire
- An answer often used to cover an unnecessary explanation, rather to avoid conflict or an argument. Saying "I'm fine" can be used to avoid inquiry when the speaker is not really okay.
- Of superior quality.
- Senses referring to objective quality.
- Of a particular grade of quality, usually between very good and very fine, and below mint.
- (of weather) Sunny and not raining.
- Consisting of especially minute particulate; made up of particularly small pieces.
- Synonyms: fine-grained, powdered, powdery, pulverised, pulverized, small-grained
- Antonym: coarse
- Particularly slender; especially thin, narrow, or of small girth.
- Made of slender or thin filaments.
- Synonym: fine-threaded
- Antonym: coarse
- Having a (specified) proportion of pure metal in its composition.
- Of a particular grade of quality, usually between very good and very fine, and below mint.
- (cricket) Behind the batsman and at a small angle to the line between the wickets.
- (obsolete) Subtle; thin; tenuous.
Derived terms
See below.
Translations
Adverb
fine (comparative more fine, superlative most fine)
- Expression of (typically) reluctant agreement.
- Synonyms: all right, alright, OK, very well
- Well, nicely, in a positive way.
- Everything worked out fine.
- (dated, dialect, colloquial) Finely; elegantly; delicately.
- (pool, billiards) In a manner so that the driven ball strikes the object ball so far to one side as to be barely deflected, the object ball being driven to one side.
Translations
Noun
fine (plural fines)
- Fine champagne; French brandy.
- 1926, Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises, Scribner 2003, page 14:
- We had dined at l'Avenue's, and afterward went to the Café de Versailles for coffee. We had several fines after the coffee, and I said I must be going.
- 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber 2007, page 18:
- He refilled his glass. ‘The fine is very good,’ he said.
- 1926, Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises, Scribner 2003, page 14:
- (usually in the plural) Something that is fine; fine particles.
- They filtered silt and fines out of the soil.
Usage notes
Particularly used in plural as fines of ground coffee beans in espresso making.
See also
- filing
Verb
fine (third-person singular simple present fines, present participle fining, simple past and past participle fined)
- (transitive) To make finer, purer, or cleaner; to purify or clarify.
- to fine gold
- 1666 (written), 1681 (published), Thomas Hobbes, A Dialogue between a Philosopher and a Student of the Common Laws of England
- It hath been fined and refined by […] learned men.
- (intransitive) To become finer, purer, or cleaner.
- To make finer, or less coarse, as in bulk, texture, etc.
- to fine the soil
- (Can we find and add a quotation of L. H. Bailey to this entry?)
- To change by fine gradations.
- to fine down a ship's lines, i.e. to diminish her lines gradually
- I often sate at home / On evenings, watching how they fined themselves / With gradual conscience to a perfect night.
- (transitive) To clarify (wine and beer) by filtration.
- (intransitive, dated) To become gradually fine; to diminish; to dwindle (with away, down, or off).
- 1882, William Clark Russell, My Watch Below
- I watched her [the ship] […] gradually fining down in the westward until I lost sight of her hull.
- 1882, William Clark Russell, My Watch Below
Synonyms
- (to make or become finer, purer, or cleaner): clarify, refine, purify
Related terms
- (clarify by filtration): finings
Translations
Derived terms
Related terms
- final
- finite
Etymology 2
From Middle English fyn, fyne, from Old French fin, from Medieval Latin finis (“a payment in settlement or tax”). Doublet of finis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /fa?n/,
Noun
fine (plural fines)
- A fee levied as punishment for breaking the law.
- The fine for jay-walking has gone from two dollars to thirty in the last fifteen years.
Synonyms
- amercement
Translations
Verb
fine (third-person singular simple present fines, present participle fining, simple past and past participle fined)
- (transitive) To issue a fine as punishment to (someone).
- (intransitive) To pay a fine.
- 1818, Henry Hallam, View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages
- Men fined for the king's good will; or that he would remit his anger; women fined for leave to marry.
- 1818, Henry Hallam, View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages
Synonyms
- amerce
Translations
Related terms
- finance
Etymology 3
From Italian fine (“end”).
Pronunciation
- enPR: f?'n?, IPA(key): /?fi?ne?/
Noun
fine (plural fines)
- (music) The end of a musical composition.
- (music) The location in a musical score that indicates the end of the piece, particularly when the piece ends somewhere in the middle of the score due to a section of the music being repeated.
Usage notes
This word is virtually never used in speech and therefore essentially confined to musical notation.
Derived terms
- da capo al fine=D.C. al fine
Etymology 4
From Middle English finen, fynen, from Old French finer, finir. See finish (transitive verb).
Verb
fine (third-person singular simple present fines, present participle fining, simple past and past participle fined)
- (obsolete, intransitive) To finish; to cease.
- (obsolete, transitive) To cause to cease; to stop.
Noun
fine (plural fines)
- (obsolete) End; conclusion; termination; extinction.
- A final agreement concerning lands or rents between persons, as the lord and his vassal.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spelman to this entry?)
- (Britain, law) A sum of money or price paid for obtaining a benefit, favor, or privilege, as for admission to a copyhold, or for obtaining or renewing a lease.
References
- “fine”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
Anagrams
- Enif, Fein, NiFe, feni, ifen, neif, nief, nife
Asturian
Verb
fine
- first/third-person singular present subjunctive of finar
Danish
Adjective
fine
- plural and definite singular attributive of fin
Esperanto
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fine/
- Hyphenation: fi?ne
- Rhymes: -ine
- Audio:
Adverb
fine
- finally, at last; at the end
- in the final analysis, when all's said and done
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /fin/
- Rhymes: -in
Adjective
fine
- feminine singular of fin
Noun
fine f (plural fines)
- (typography) thin space, non-breakable space
- a number of high grade French brandies (usually AOC certified)
Further reading
- “fine” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Futuna-Aniwa
Noun
fine
- woman, female (of any sort)
References
- Arthur Capell, Futuna-Aniwa Dictionary, with Grammatical Introduction (1984)
Ido
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fine/
Adverb
fine
- finally
Irish
Etymology
From Old Irish fine, from Proto-Celtic *weny? (“family”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh?- (“desire”); compare Old English wine (“friend”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?f??n??/
Noun
fine f (genitive singular fine, nominative plural finte)
- family group
- race
- territory of a family group
Declension
Derived terms
- Fine Gael
Mutation
Further reading
- "fine" in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
- Entries containing “fine” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
- Entries containing “fine” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.
Italian
Etymology
From Latin f?nis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fi.ne/
- Hyphenation: fì?ne
Adjective
fine (plural fini)
- thin
- Synonym: sottile
- fine
- refined
- Synonym: elegante
Derived terms
- finemente
Adjective
fine
- feminine plural of fino
Noun
fine f (plural fini)
- end
- Synonyms: conclusione, finale, termine
- Antonyms: inizio, principio
Noun
fine m (plural fini)
- aim, purpose, end
- Synonyms: scopo, obiettivo
Related terms
Anagrams
- feni
Latin
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /?fi?.ne/, [?fi?n?]
- (Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /?fi.ne/, [?fi?n?]
Noun
f?ne
- ablative singular of f?nis
References
- fine in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
Manx
Etymology
From Old Irish faigen (“sheath, scabbard”), from Latin v?g?na. Cognate with Irish faighin and Scottish Gaelic faighean.
Noun
fine m (genitive singular fine, plural fineyn)
- quiver
- sheath, scabbard
- Synonym: laan
- (anatomy) vagina
- Synonyms: pihtt, pitt
Synonyms
- cuinnag
Mutation
North Frisian
Etymology
From Old Frisian finda, which derives from Proto-West Germanic *finþan. Cognates include Föhr-Amrum North Frisian finj and West Frisian fine.
Verb
fine
- (Mooring Dialect) to find
Conjugation
Norwegian Bokmål
Adjective
fine
- definite singular of fin
- plural of fin
Norwegian Nynorsk
Adjective
fine
- definite singular of fin
- plural of fin
Old Irish
Etymology
From Proto-Celtic *weny?.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?f?in?e/
Noun
fine f
- family, kin, group of people of common descent
- clan, tribe, race
Inflection
Descendants
- Irish: fine
Mutation
Further reading
- Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019) , “fine”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Portuguese
Pronunciation
- Hyphenation: fi?ne
Verb
fine
- first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of finar
- third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of finar
- third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of finar
- third-person singular (você) negative imperative of finar
Romanian
Etymology
From Italian fine, and partly French fin.
Noun
fine f (uncountable)
- (literary) end
- Synonym: sfâr?it
Derived terms
- în fine
Spanish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fine/, [?fi.ne]
Verb
fine
- Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of finir.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of finir.
- Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present indicative form of finir.
Swedish
Adjective
fine
- absolute definite natural masculine form of fin.
West Frisian
Etymology
From Old Frisian finda, from Proto-West Germanic *finþan.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fin?/
Verb
fine
- to find
- to decide that, to form the opinion that
Inflection
Further reading
- “fine (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011
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