a. and sb. Also 5–6 exquisyt(e, 6–8 -it. [ad L. exquīsīt-us, pa. pple. of exquīrĕre to search out, f. ex- out + quærĕre to search, seek.]
A. adj.
1. Sought out, ‘recherché.’ † a. Of an expedient, explanation, reason: Sought out, ingeniously devised, far-fetched. Of studies: Abstruse.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 36. He schal by necessite be artid, to fynd exquisyte [Laud MS. requisite] meanys of getting of Goods.
1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 299. If this exposition seeme to M. Harding ouer exquisite, or curious.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. iii. 155. I haue no exquisite reason for’t, but I haue reason good enough.
1665. G. Havers, P. della Valle’s Trav. E. India, 8. The English … well understand all the most exquisite points of Navigation.
† b. Of language, expression, terms: Carefully selected; aptly chosen, choice. Hence, out of the way, uncommon; in unfavorable sense, affected, over-labored. Obs.
c. 1430. Henryson, Test. Cresseid, xxxix. To here His faconde tonge, and termes exquisite.
1521. in Bradshaw’s St. Werburge (1887), 201. Fragrant and facunde of englisshe exquisite.
1549. Compl. Scot., Prol. 16. I thocht it nocht necessair til hef fardit … this tracteit vitht exquisite termis, quhilkis ar nocht daly vsit.
1593. R. Harvey, Philad., 70. If the phrase be not exquisit, or the obseruation not singular.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low-C. Warres, III. 54. Which benefit Granvel ascribed to the Dutchess, with exquisite thanks.
1698–9. Maundrell, Lett., in Journ. Jerus, end. The most hideous Execrations; in which way these Eastern Nations, have certainly the most exquisite Rhetorick of any People upon Earth.
c. Of meat, drink, etc.: Carefully chosen; choice, dainty, delicious (passing into sense 5).
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. 86. The filthy desire of exquisite meates.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, C iij. In al diseases of long continuance the pacyent most vse lytle meate & exquisite.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 346. All Fish from Sea or Shore … of Shell or fin, And exquisitest name.
1715. R. Nelson, Addr. Pers. Qual., 66. The Devil is a Monster that nourishes himself with the most exquisite Morsels.
1716. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. vii. 22. Eighteen different sorts [of wine] all exquisite in their kinds.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. 10. The Propontis … renowned for … the most exquisite fish.
† 2. Carefully ascertained or adjusted; accurate, exact. Of an action, investigation, etc.; whence of persons or agents: Careful, curious, minute. Obs.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 52 a. The meate that shall make syckenes, must not a lyttell excede the exquisite measure.
1571. Campion, Hist. Irel., vii. (1633), 22. It wilbe no hard matter to descry the falshood, wherin I would be more exquisite, were it worth my labour.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xli. (1887), 249. The framing of the minde … craueth exquisite consideration.
1602. Fulbecke, 2nd Pt. Parall., 2. In the due performance of his Tithe, he was alwaies diligent and exquisite.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iv. § 2. E 2 b. A necessitie of a more exquisite trauaile in the languages originall, wherein those Authors did write.
1624. Wotton, Archit. (1672), 26. There must be an exquisite care to place the Columnes precisely one over another.
1634. Milton, Comus, 359. Be not over exquisite To cast the fashion of uncertain evils.
1715. J. Richardson, Th. Painting, 28. A curious Mechanick’s Hand must be exquisite, but his Thoughts are commonly pretty much at liberty.
1757. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., II. vii. Accuracy or exquisite digestion of their laws.
† b. of knowledge. Obs.
1564. Golding, Justine, 94. Takyng his iourney first into Egipt, and afterward to Babilo … he [Pythagoras] attained to meruelous exquisite knowledge.
1651. Culpepper, Astrol Judgem. Dis., Epist. A 3 b. To make judgement sound is required an exquisite knowledge.
† c. Path. [transl. Gr. ἀκριβής, rendered exquisitus in the Lat. versions of Galen.] Of a specified disease: Accurately so named; typical, genuine, as opposed to spurious. Cf. F. (fièvre) exquise.
1610. Barrough, Meth. Physick, V. xvi. (1639), 307. In an exquisite Erysipelas make no detraction of bloud.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 136. An exquisite differs from a bastard Tertian.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., IV. 120/1. An exquisite Diabetes caused by attraction of urine.
3. Carefully elaborated; brought to a high degree of perfection.
† a. Of art, workmanship, a product of art or nature: Elaborate, highly finished, excellent. Of an action or process, a state or condition: Carried to a high degree of perfection or completeness. Obs.; merged in 4.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 5. They se that exquisite workmanship in al their members.
1589. Nashe, Greene’s Menaphon, Ded. (Arb.), 13. Manie other exquisite editions of Divinitie, turned by him [Golding] out of the French tongue.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 264. Forum Trajani, the most exquisite building of all the world.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countrey Farme, 144. The hearbe called Rose-baie, or Oleander … is an exquisite remedie for this disease.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 379. They shall make an exquisite dispatch of the inhabitants.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xxi. 239. Wherein he hath done such exquisite Service to the Protestant Cause.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymns Evang., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 52. All things which exquisitest Poysons breed.
1752. Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), II. 193. Every thing, belonging to a vain man, is the best that is any where to be found…. His cookery is more exquisite.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., viii. § 3 (1819), 87. Small pipes which … might … distribute this exquisite supply to every part of the body.
b. Of torture: Elaborately devised; hence, excruciating, intensely painful. Cf. 6.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1610), 475–6. Hee caused [them] to be put to death with most exquisit torments.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 13. Tortures of more exquisite device.
1672. Cave, Prim. Chr., I. i. (1673), 2. Put to death with the most exquisite arts of torture.
c. Of qualities, dispositions, habits, whether good or bad: Cultivated to a high degree of intensity; consummate, extreme. Now with some notion (in the case of bad qualities, ironical) of sense 4.
1552. Huloet, Exquisite or immoderate clenlines.
1648. Eikon Bas., xii. With exquisite malice they have mixed the gall and vinegar of falsitie and contempt with the cup of My Affliction.
1774. Wesley, Wks. (1830), IV. 18. His exquisite want of judgment.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, I. II. x. 465, note. The exquisite ignorance and stupidity of the Mysoreans in the art of war.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 54. A new religious order … animated by intense enthusiasm and organised with exquisite skill.
† 4. Of a person, etc.: Accomplished either in good or bad things; consummate, excellent, perfect. Const. at, of, in, also to with inf. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., Introd., 44. If any … be desyrous to be exquisyt in the frenche tong.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 59. A bishop, so exquisite in diuinity, as you are.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 393. It [a Mouse] is a creature very diligent and exquisite, both to compass, seek out and chuse the same.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 236. Regia-Bander, an exquisite vilaine, murders the olde and young Moguls.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low-C. Warres, VI. 21. Captaine Campin an exquisite Enginere.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (ed. 3), II. 258. His Honour must needs be a most exquisite Sloven.
1771. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 82. A most exquisite mechanic, and a solid, sensible man.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), xv. Introd. I made her write … to an exquisite gentleman.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxvi. ‘I guessed he had some exquisite instructer,’ said Louis.
5. Of such consummate excellence, beauty, or perfection, as to excite intense delight or admiration. (Now the prevailing sense; in early examples a contextual use of 3, sometimes of 1 or 2.)
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 38. A woman so exquisite that in some mens judgement Pigmalions image was not halfe so excellent.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., I. vi. 190. Iewels Of rich, and exquisite forme.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 1. The youngest among them, was a babe of exquisite beauty. Ibid., 51. Caused the March or Levata to be sounded … with such exquisite melodie [etc.].
1845. L. Hunt, Stories Ital. Poets, I. 168. A lovely spot … enamelled with flowers that surpassed the exquisitest dyes.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. x. 67. The weather was so exquisite that my friends thought it best to take advantage of it.
1876. Humphreys, Coin-coll. Man., xxvi. 387. The Greeks found means to invest with exquisite symmetry even a … vine leaf.
1879. Harlan, Eyesight, ii. 12. An exquisite adaptation of every part to the great object of the whole.
1884. Q. Victoria, More Leaves, 292. As we drove, the setting sun bathed the hills in crimson … the effect was exquisite.
6. Of pain, pleasure, etc.: Intense, acute, keen.
1644. Bp. Hall, Serm., Rem. Wks. (1660), 105. The Spirit feels more exquisite pain without the Body … then it could feel in the former conjunction with it.
1745. Fielding, Tom Jones, II. vi. The distresses of the vicious … became too exquisite.
1836. Sparks, Biog., Mather, VI. iv. 262. She was thrown into exquisite misery.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. v. 198. It was a moment of exquisite triumph.
1865. Lecky, Ration. (1878), I. iii. 320. Surgeons … have derived the most exquisite pleasure from the operations of their profession.
7. Of the power of feeling, bodily or mental, the senses, etc.: Keenly sensitive to impressions; acutely susceptible of pain, pleasure, etc.; delicate, finely strung.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., Ep. Ded. A ij b. One person of the exquisitest judgement.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. xix. 51/2. They have an exquisite sense, and are pained when stones pass through them.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 508, ¶ 3. We thought him a Person of an exquisite Palate.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 19. The serpent’s olfactory nerves being remarkably exquisite.
1842. Macaulay, Fredk. Gt., Ess. (1877), I. 660. He had an exquisite ear, and performed skilfully on the flute.
1852–9. Todd, Cycl. Anat., IV. 219/1. The sensibility of the eye to light is very exquisite.
8. quasi-adv. = EXQUISITELY.
1529. More, Supplic. Soulys, Wks. 289/2. In perill of exquisite paynefull punyshemente.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 145. They [Guanacoes] are exceeding nimble, of an exquisite quick Sight … and difficult to be shot.
B. sb. A person (usually a man) who is overnice in dress, etc.; a coxcomb, dandy, fop.
1819. ‘R. Rabelais,’ Abeillard & Heloisa, 34. Like modern dashing Exquisites.
1830. Arnold, in Stanley, Life & Corr. (1844), II. App. 388. Our exquisites imitate the outside of foreign customs without discrimination.
1849. Sir J. Stephen, Eccl. Biog. (1850), I. 147. The unlucky Exquisite was degraded on the spot.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., v. 241. The foppish exquisite of the drawing-room.
