I can’t find the link, for which I apologize all over cyberspace, but from somewhere in the twitter stream I saw a list go by of twenty words that have fallen out of use and ought to be brought back. Some of them, I could not rightly pronounce, but they were all fun. I knew maybe four out of the twenty, and could guess a few more.
This one, though, stuck with me because I am going to use it when some lordly swain wants to get his old-fashioned, sybaritic ya-ya’s out.
Etymology: Formed after Old French délicier (12–16th cent.), trans. to rejoice, refl.…
1. To take one’s pleasure, enjoy oneself, revel, luxuriate.
1633 H. Hawkins Partheneia Sacra 18 (R.) When Flora is disposed to deliciate with her minions.
1678 R. Cudworth tr. Origen in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. v. 811 These Evil Demons therefore did as it were Deliciate and Epicurize in them.
2. To fill with delight, render delightful, delight.
1694 R. Franck Northern Mem. 65, I perceive you disordered, but not much deliciated.
1694 R. Franck Northern Mem. 103 Whilst the Birds harmoniously deliciate the Air.
Where else in our big, wide, wonderful language do we have another word that means: to render delightful?