Nice a. [Compar. Nicer superl. Nicest.]
1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate. [Obs.]
But say that we ben wise and nothing nice. --Chaucer.
2. Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial. [Obs.]
The letter was not nice, but full of charge
Of dear import. --Shak.
4. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.
Curious not knowing, not exact but nice. --Pope.
And to taste
Think not I shall be nice. --Milton.
5. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure; -- of people.
Dear love, continue nice and chaste. --Donne.
A nice and subtile happiness. --Milton.
6. Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment; -- of people. “Our author happy in a judge so nice.” --Pope. “Nice verbal criticism.” --Coleridge.
7. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application.
8. Hence: Exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; fine; subtle; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.
The difference is too nice
Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. --Pope.
9. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc.; -- of events, actions, experiences.
He's making a list, checking it twice.
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town. --Song.
To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.]
Syn: -- Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; subtle; accurate; exact; correct; precise; particular; pleasant; kind; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; well-mannered; well-behaved.
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