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Literary notes about delicate (AI summary)

The word "delicate" appears in literature with a remarkable range of meanings, from the tangible to the abstract. It is often used to describe physical attributes that evoke fragility or refined beauty, as seen in portrayals of slender limbs, fine features, or subtle textures [1] [2] [3]. At other times, it characterizes intangible qualities such as sensitivities in personality or social interactions, alluding to matters that require refined handling or thoughtful tact [4] [5] [6]. Moreover, "delicate" lends itself to sensory descriptions—from the fine aroma of coffee and truffles to the graceful movement of a dancer or the subtle scent of a flower—which adds an air of precision and ephemeral beauty to the narrative [7] [8] [9]. This multi-layered use underscores the term's versatility in evoking both physical nuance and emotional sensitivity in literary works.
  1. He had a tiny plump body and a delicate beak, and slender delicate legs.
    — from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
  2. Look what delicate fingers he has got; Madonna intended him for a glovemaker."
    — from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. Andersen
  3. He had delicate features, redeemed from effeminacy by the swarthiness of his complexion, and his quick intensity of expression.
    — from North and South by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
  4. “Precisely,” Marcher interposed—“quite as if it were too delicate a matter for us to make free with.
    — from The Beast in the Jungle by Henry James
  5. Then she lowered her voice, and began to broach delicate subjects.
    — from Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant by Guy de Maupassant
  6. “It’s a business that needs delicate treatment,” said Holmes.
    — from The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
  7. Truffles, among all earthly things, are the most delicate and most subtle in flavor.
    — from Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome by Apicius
  8. It is a high-grade coffee, making a handsome roast, and possessing a delicate flavor.
    — from All About Coffee by William H. Ukers
  9. Its delicate blossoms shrank from the slightest earthly touch; it seemed as if a tree of paradise had been transplanted to earth.
    — from The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

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