Nearby Words

delights

[dih-lahyt] Origin

de·light

[dih-lahyt]
noun
1.
a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture: She takes great delight in her job.
2.
something that gives great pleasure: The dance was a delight to see.
verb (used with object)
3.
to give great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment to; please highly: The show delighted everyone.

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Delights is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
verb (used without object)
4.
to have great pleasure; take pleasure (followed by in or an infinitive): She delights in going for long walks in the country.

Origin:
1175–1225; (v.) respelling, after light1, of earlier delite, Middle English deliten < Anglo-French deliter, Old French delitier < Latin delectāre (see delectable); (noun) respelling (as above) of Middle English delit < Anglo-French, Old French, derivative of v.

de·light·er, noun
de·light·ing·ly, adverb
de·light·less, adjective
self-de·light, noun
un·de·light·ing, adjective


1. transport, delectation. See pleasure. 3. charm, enrapture.


1. distress. 2. disappointment.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To delights
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Word Origin & History

delight
early 13c., delit, from O.Fr. delit, from delitier "please greatly, charm," from L. delectare "to allure, delight," freq. of delicere "entice" (see delicious). Spelled delite until 16c. when it changed under influence of light, flight, etc. Related: Delightful (1520s).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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