a. [ OF. delicieus, F. délicieux, L. deliciosus, fr. deliciae delight, fr. delicere to allure. See Delight. ] 1. Affording exquisite pleasure; delightful; most sweet or grateful to the senses, especially to the taste; charming. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some delicious landscape. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

One draught of spring's delicious air. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

Were not his words delicious? Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Addicted to pleasure; seeking enjoyment; luxurious; effeminate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Others, lastly, of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire themselves to the enjoyments of ease and luxury. Milton.

Syn. -- Delicious, Delightful. Delicious refers to the pleasure derived from certain of the senses, particularly the taste and smell; as, delicious food; a delicious fragrance. Delightful may also refer to most of the senses (as, delightful music; a delightful prospect; delightful sensations), but has a higher application to matters of taste, feeling, and sentiment; as, a delightful abode, conversation, employment; delightful scenes, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like the rich fruit he sings, delicious in decay. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

No spring, nor summer, on the mountain seen,
Smiles with gay fruits or with delightful green. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Delightfully; as, to feed deliciously; to be deliciously entertained. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of being delicious; as, the deliciousness of a repast. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Luxury. “To drive away all superfluity and deliciousness.” Sir T. North. [ 1913 Webster ]