ex-

out, away; also thoroughly

Forms

ex-
e- — Shortened in Latin before certain consonants.
ef- — Used before f in Latin.
es- — Developed from ex- in French.
s- — In some French borrowings, es- lost its initial e.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *eghs, ‘out.’

Note

The outward sense could extend to carrying an action through completely.

201 / 239

adjective

exquisite

ik-SKWIZ-it/ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/

Exceptionally fine or delicate.

The exquisite butterfly brooch has delicate gold filigree and tiny gemstones.

A single exquisitely crafted butterfly brooch, enlarged to reveal delicate gold filigree, translucent enamel wings, and precisely set tiny gemstones.

Etymology

exLatinout, away; also thoroughly

+quisiteLatinseek, ask, investigate

Something “carefully sought out” was choice or carefully selected. This idea developed into the modern sense of delightful excellence, especially in beauty, delicacy, or workmanship.

In context

South Florida PBS0:11

beautiful seashells that delight with their intricate form and stunning colors. (music continues) (waves rushing) - [John] We all go to the beach and find these just exquisite shells.

Mollusks: More than a Shell | Changing Seas

More examples

The handmade lace is exquisite in every detail.
The violinist shapes each phrase with exquisite care.
Her exquisite sense of timing makes even a simple joke memorable.

Forms

exquisite

exquisitely adverb — With exceptional beauty, delicacy, or precision.

exquisiteness noun — The quality of exceptional beauty or delicacy.

Similar words

beautiful: Emphasizes pleasing appearance without necessarily suggesting delicacy or refinement.
delicate: Emphasizes fineness or subtlety rather than exceptional overall quality.
refined: Emphasizes cultivated taste or polish rather than striking beauty.