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Webster 1913 Edition

Exquisite

Ex′qui-site

,
Adj.
[L.
exquisitus
, p. p. of
exquirere
to search out;
ex
out +
quarere
to seek, search. See
Quest
.]
1.
Carefully selected or sought out; hence, of distinguishing and surpassing quality; exceedingly nice; delightfully excellent; giving rare satisfaction;
as,
exquisite
workmanship
.
Plate of rare device, and jewels
Of reach and
exquisite
form.
Shakespeare
I have no
exquisite
reason for ’t, but I have reason good enough.
Shakespeare
2.
Exceeding; extreme; keen; – used in a bad or a good sense;
as,
exquisite
pain or pleasure
.
3.
Of delicate perception or close and accurate discrimination; not easy to satisfy; exact; nice; fastidious;
as,
exquisite
judgment, taste, or discernment
.
Syn. – Nice; delicate; exact; refined; choice; rare; matchless; consummate; perfect.

Ex′qui-site

,
Noun.
One who manifests an exquisite attention to external appearance; one who is overnice in dress or ornament; a fop; a dandy.

Webster 1828 Edition

Exquisite

EX'QUISITE

,
Adj.
s as z. [L. e xquisitus, from exquiro; ex and quaero, to seek.] Literally, sought out or searched for with care; whence, choice; select. Hence,
1.
Nice; exact; very excellent; complete; as a vase of exquisite workmanship.
2.
Nice; accurate; capable of nice perception; as exquisite sensibility.
3.
Nice; accurate; capable of nice discrimination; as exquisite judgment, taste or discernment.
4.
Being in the highest degree; extreme; as, to relish pleasure in an exquisite degree. So we say, exquisite pleasure or pain.
The most exquisite of human satisfactions flows from an approving conscience.
5.
Very sensibly felt; as a painful and exquisite impression on the nerves.

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