Delicacies

/ˈdɛlɪkəsiz/ noun

Definition

Rare, expensive, or specially prepared foods considered very desirable or of high quality; plural form.

Etymology

From Old French 'delicatesse,' from Latin 'delicatus' meaning 'alluring' or 'pleasing to the senses.' The word traveled from describing sensory pleasure to specific foods.

Kelly Says

Many foods called 'delicacies' are actually prepared from unexpected sources—bird's nest soup comes from bird saliva, and caviar from fish eggs—showing that 'delicacy' is more about rarity and preparation than the ingredient itself!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.