Exquisite, a.
Etymology: [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. Plate of rare device, and jewels Of reach and exquisite form. Shak. I have no exquisite reason for 't, but I have reason good enough. Shak.
2. Exceeding; extreme; keen; -- used in a bad or a good sense; as, exquisite pain or pleasure.
3. Of delicate perception or close and accurate discrimination; not easy to satisfy; exact; nice; fastidious; as, exquisite judgment, taste, or discernment. His books of Oriental languages, wherein he was exquisite. Fuller.
Syn. -- Nice; delicate; exact; refined; choice; rare; matchless; consummate; perfect.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Exquisite, n.
One who manifests an exquisite attention to external appearance; one who is overnice in dress or ornament; a fop; a dandy.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for exquisite; he lists it under beautiful, delicious, fine, tasteful.
Where he writes about it:
That which is finished is apt to be polished, smooth to the touch, minutely exact in outline; hence fine comes to be a synonym for all words like dainty, delicate, exquisite; as, fine manners, a fine touch, fine perceptions. — from fine
Exquisite denotes the utmost perfection of the elegant in minute details; we speak of an elegant garment, an exquisite lace. — from tasteful
Exquisite is also applied to intense keenness of any feeling; as, exquisite delight; exquisite pain. — from tasteful