Etymology Map
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Delicate

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means easily broken; fine in texture

Where does the word "delicate" come from? It comes from Latin delicatus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
delicatus
Latin · ancient
"pleasing, luxurious"
related to 'delicere', to allure, the root of 'delicious'
2
Stage 2 of 3
delicat
Old French · medieval
"delicate"
first said of people who loved ease and luxury; the sense 'easily broken' dates from the 1560s
3
Stage 3 of 3
delicate
English · 1300s
"pleasing"
'delicatessen' comes from the same root via German
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Read the full story

Delicate’s story begins in Latin: delicatus meant “pleasing, luxurious.” Related to 'delicere', to allure, the root of 'delicious'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as delicat. First said of people who loved ease and luxury; the sense 'easily broken' dates from the 1560s. It reached English by 1300s as delicate. 'delicatessen' comes from the same root via German. Today, delicate means easily broken; fine in texture.