delicious

Etymology

From Middle English delicious, from Anglo-Norman delicious, from Old French delicious, delicieux, from Late Latin dēliciōsus (“delicate, delicious”), from dēliciae (“delights”), plural of dēlicia (“pleasure”), from deliciō (“I allure, I entice”), from de- (“away”) + laciō (“I lure, I deceive”). Displaced native Middle English este (“delicious, favorable”) (from Old English ēste (“delicious, dainty, luxurious, delicate”)), Middle English wunli, wunlic (“delicious, joyous”) (from Old English wynlīċ (“pleasant, beautiful, joyful”)), Old English ēstelīc (“delicious, delicate, dainty”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /dəˈlɪʃəs/, /diˈlɪʃəs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪʃəs

Adjective

delicious (comparative more delicious, superlative most delicious)

1. Pleasing to taste; tasty.
2. (colloquial) Metaphorically pleasing to taste; pleasing to the eyes or mind.

   The irony is delicious!

   • 1986, Patrick Lichfield, Courvoisier's Book of the Best (page 230)

     But the houses are so delicious and the way they're townscaped on to hilly bits is absolutely wonderful.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, London: A[ndrew] Millar, OCLC 928184292:

     Jones had not travelled far before he paid his compliments to that beautiful planet, and, turning to his companion, asked him if he had ever beheld so delicious an evening?

3. (slang) Having tremendous sex appeal.

Anagrams

• leucosiid, lousicide

Etymology

Latin, see above.

Adjective

delicious m (oblique and nominative feminine singular deliciouse)

1. delicious; tasty
2. noble; courtly; courteous