Definition of "delicate"

There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.

1850 April 18, Frederik W. Robertson, An Address Delivered to the Members of the Working Man's Institute‎, page 5

The final vote between Hollande and Sarkozy now depends on a delicate balance of how France's total of rightwing and leftwing voters line up.

2012 April 23, Angelique Chrisafis, “François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election”, in the Guardian‎

a delicate and tender prince

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene iv]

Haerlem is a very delicate town and hath one of the fairest churches of the Gothic design I had ever seen.

circa 1660, John Evelyn (author), William Bray (editor), The Diary of John Evelyn, volume I of II (1901), entry for the 19th of August in 1641, page 29

They would give up ideas of gentle living, of soft raiment, and delicate feeding.

1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage

Cassio: She’s a most exquisite lady. […] Indeed, she’s a most fresh and delicate creature.

c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene iii], lines 18 and 20–21

With Abstinence all Delicates he Sees, / And can regale himself with Toast and Cheese.

1712, William King, The Art of Cookery, in Imitation of Horace's Art of Poetry

A council of war was called, and the delicates met in the great cabin ; the platform was rigged up on the forecastle, the yard-rope rove, and the signal made for all boats to attend execution

1830, “The Barge's Crew”, in The Log Book; Or, Nautical Miscellany‎, page 341

If Lucullus were not a waster and a delicate given to belly-cheare.

1603, Plutarch, translated by Philemon Holland, The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield