the passage of _Measure for Measure_:

1. "_Fine_ apparition".--_Tempest_, Act i. sc. 2.

2. "Spirit, _fine_ spirit."--Ditto.

3. "_Delicate_ Ariel."--Ditto.

4. "And, for thou wast a spirit too _delicate_,
To act her _earthy_ and abhorred commands."
Ditto.

5. "_Fine_ Ariel."--Ditto.

6. "My _delicate_ Ariel."--Ditto. Act iv. sc. 1.

7. "Why that's my _dainty_ Ariel."--Ditto. Act v.
sc. 1.

I do not know the precise nature of the "old authorities" which MR.
SINGER opposes to my conjecture: but may we not demur to the
conclusiveness of any "old authorities" on such a point? Etymology seems
to be one of the developing sciences, in which we know more, and better,
than our forefathers, as our descendants will know more, and better,
than we do.

To end with a brace of queries. Are not _delicioe_, _delicatus_, more
probably from _deligere_ than from _delicere_? And whence comes the word
_dainty_? I cannot believe in the derivation from _dens_, "a tooth."