exquisite

[ ik-skwiz-it, ek-skwi-zit ]
/ ɪkˈskwɪz ɪt, ˈɛk skwɪ zɪt /

adjective

noun

Archaic. a person, especially a man, who is excessively concerned about clothes, grooming, etc.; dandy; coxcomb.

Origin of exquisite

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin exquīsītus meticulous, chosen with care, originally past participle of exquīrere to ask about, examine, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + -quīrere, combining form of quaerere to seek

synonym study for exquisite

1. See delicate. 2. See fine1

pronunciation note for exquisite

The pronunciation of exquisite has undergone a rapid change from [ek-skwi-zit] /ˈɛk skwɪ zɪt/ to [ik-skwiz-it] /ɪkˈskwɪz ɪt/, 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM exquisite

Words nearby exquisite

Example sentences from the Web for exquisitely

British Dictionary definitions for exquisitely

exquisite
/ (ɪkˈskwɪzɪt, ˈɛkskwɪzɪt) /

adjective

noun

obsolete a dandy

Derived forms of exquisite

exquisitely, adverb exquisiteness, noun

Word Origin for exquisite

C15: from Latin exquīsītus excellent, from exquīrere to search out, from quaerere to seek

Medical definitions for exquisitely

exquisite
[ ĕkskwĭ-zĭt, ĭk-skwĭzĭt ]

n.

Extremely intense, keen, or sharp. Used of pain or tenderness.