a. [ L. exquisitus, p. p. of exquirere to search out; ex out + quarere to seek, search. See Quest. ] 1. Carefully selected or sought out; hence, of distinguishing and surpassing quality; exceedingly nice; delightfully excellent; giving rare satisfaction; as, exquisite workmanship. [ 1913 Webster ]

Plate of rare device, and jewels
Of reach and exquisite form. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have no exquisite reason for 't, but I have reason good enough. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exceeding; extreme; keen; -- used in a bad or a good sense; as, exquisite pain or pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of delicate perception or close and accurate discrimination; not easy to satisfy; exact; nice; fastidious; as, exquisite judgment, taste, or discernment. [ 1913 Webster ]

His books of Oriental languages, wherein he was exquisite. Fuller.

Syn. -- Nice; delicate; exact; refined; choice; rare; matchless; consummate; perfect. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who manifests an exquisite attention to external appearance; one who is overnice in dress or ornament; a fop; a dandy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an exquisite manner or degree; as, lace exquisitely wrought. [ 1913 Webster ]

To a sensitive observer there was something exquisitely painful in it. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being exquisite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Eager to discover or learn; curious. [ Obs. ] Todd. -- Ex*quis"i*tive*ly, adv. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]