† deˈlice Obs.
Forms: 3–7 delice, 3–6 -yce, 4 -ijss, 5 -is, -ys, -yse; pl. 3–7 delices, 4–5 -icis, 4 -icys, 5 -ycys, 5–6 -yces.
[a. OF. delice masc.:—L. dēlicium, and OF. delices fem. pl.:—L. dēliciæ, -as, delight, pleasure, charm; f. dēlicĕre to allure, entice, delight. (The L. words have the form of the neuter sing. and fem. pl. of an adj. *dēlicius charming, alluring. L. had also the fem. sing. dēlicia, whence It. delizia, Sp., Pg. delicia delight.]
1. Delight, pleasure, joy, enjoyment.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 340 Vor his delices, he seið, beoð forto wunien þer. ‘Et delicie mee cum filiis hominum.’ 1382 Wyclif Gen. ii. 8 The Lord God had plawntid paradise of delice fro bigynnyng. 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy iii. xxviii, Causinge the ayre enuyron be delyse To resemble a very paradyse. 1435 Misyn Fire of Love 96 Þe delis of endles lufe. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 174 In thy delyces holy mother of God. 1614 T. Adams Devil's Banquet 3 If she discouers the greene and gay flowers of delice. 1656 Jer. Taylor in Four C. Eng. Lett. 104 My delices were really in seeing you severe and unconcerned. 1685 Evelyn Mrs. Godolphin 47 The love of God and delices of Religion. |
b. spec. Sensual or worldly pleasure; voluptuousness.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 368 Þet heo gleowede & gomede..& liuede in delices? 1340 Ayenb. 24 Þe guodes of hap byeþ heȝnesses, richesses, delices, and prosperites. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶133 For certis delices ben þe appetites of þy fyue wittes. 1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 50 Take ȝe Cristes crosse, he saith, and counte we delices claye. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 535/2 Paule sayde of wanton wiedowes, that the wiedow which liueth in delyces, is dead euen whyle she liueth. 1669 Gale Crt. Gentiles i. iii. x. 106 No smooth and effeminate delices for itching ears. |
2. Something that affords pleasure; a delight.
| 14.. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 248 To don hym sorwe was here delys [rime prys]. 1564 Haward Eutropius vii. 73 Hee was called the love and delices of mankynde. 1664 Evelyn tr. Freart's Archit. Ep. Ded. 15 S. Germain's and Versailles, which were then the ordinary residence and delices of the King. 1779 Swinburne Trav. Spain xxxiv. (T.), Zehra, with all its delices, is erased from the face of the earth. |
b. A dainty, delicacy.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 195 b/1 She had no thynge but barly brede and sometyme benes, the whiche..she ete for alle delyces. 1599 H. Buttes Dyets drie Dinner A a viij, There with Cates, Delices, Tabacco, Mell. 1652 C. B. Stapylton Herodian 91 Whence..many Fragrant Spices Are brought to us, as rare and choise Delices. |
¶ Spenser stresses ˈdelices, perhaps by confusion with delicies.
| 1590–6 Spenser F.Q. ii. v. 28 And now he has pourd out his ydle mynd In daintie delices, and lavish joyes. Ibid. iv. x. 6 An island strong, Abounding all with delices most rare. Ibid. v. iii. 40. |