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exquisite

 - 5 dictionary results

ex⋅quis⋅ite

  [ik-skwiz-it, ek-skwi-zit]
Use exquisite in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of special beauty or charm, or rare and appealing excellence, as a face, a flower, coloring, music, or poetry.
2. extraordinarily fine or admirable; consummate: exquisite weather.
3. intense; acute, or keen, as pleasure or pain.
4. of rare excellence of production or execution, as works of art or workmanship: the exquisite statues of the Renaissance.
5. keenly or delicately sensitive or responsive: an exquisite ear for music; an exquisite sensibility.
6. of particular refinement or elegance, as taste, manners, etc., or persons.
7. carefully sought out, chosen, ascertained, devised, etc.
–noun
8. Archaic. a person, esp. a man, who is excessively concerned about clothes, grooming, etc.; dandy; coxcomb.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L exquīsītus meticulous, chosen with care, orig. ptp. of exquīrere to ask about, examine = ex- ex- 1 + -quīrere, comb. form of quaerere to seek

Related forms:
ex⋅quis⋅ite⋅ly, adverb
ex⋅quis⋅ite⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. dainty, beautiful, elegant, rare. See delicate. 2. perfect, matchless. See fine 1 3. poignant. 4. select, choice, precious. 6. discriminating.

Antonyms:
1. gross. 2. ordinary. 3. dull.

Pronunciation note:
The pronunciation of exquisite has undergone a rapid change from [ek-skwi-zit] to [ik-skwiz-it], with stress shifting to the second syllable. The newer pronunciation is still criticized by some, but is now more common in both the U.S. and England, and many younger educated speakers are not even aware of the older one. See harass.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To exquisite
ex·qui·site   (ěk'skwĭ-zĭt, ĭk-skwĭz'ĭt)   
adj.  

  1. Characterized by intricate and beautiful design or execution: an exquisite chalice.

  2. Of such beauty or delicacy as to arouse intense delight: an exquisite sunset. See Synonyms at delicate.

  3. Excellent; flawless: plays the piano with exquisite technique.

  4. Acutely perceptive or discriminating: "Blind dolphins have been known to survive in the wild, guided by exquisite acoustic images of their prey" (Kenneth Browser).

  5. Intense; keen: suffered exquisite pain.

  6. Obsolete Ingeniously devised or thought out.

n.  One who is excessively fastidious in dress, manners, or taste.

[Middle English exquisit, carefully chosen, from Latin exquīsītus, past participle of exquīrere, to search out : ex-, ex- + quaerere, to seek.]
ex'qui·site·ly adv., ex'qui·site·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

exquisite 
c.1430, "carefully selected," from L. exquisitus "carefully sought out," thus, "choice," from pp. of exquirere "search out," from ex- "out" + quærere "to seek" (see query). A vogue word 15c.-18c., given wide extensions of meaning, none of which survives. The main modern sense of "of consummate and delightful excellence" is first attested 1579, in Lyly's "Euphues."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·qui·site
Pronunciation: ik-'skwiz-&t, ek-
Function: adjective
: ACUTE 2a : INTENSE 1 <exquisite pain> —ex·qui·site·ly /-lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

exquisite ex·qui·site (ěk'skwĭ-zĭt, ĭk-skwĭz'ĭt)
n.
Extremely intense, keen, or sharp. Used of pain or tenderness.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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