nicety Copy link Outline I. Precise accuracyII. Fastidiousness; being over particular1. fastīdium (esp. in food)2. ēlĕgantia (usu. in good sense)3. mōrōsĭtas (over-scrupulousness)III. In pl. only, excessive refinements • nicety: I. Precise accuracy: subtīlĭtas: v. exactness, accuracy. Phr.: to a n.: (1). ad or in unguem (strictly with ref. to the sculptor passing his nail over the smoothed work): the sutures of the skull are joined to a n., suturae capitis in unguem committuntur, Cels. 8, 1, ad init.: Hor. S. 1, 5, 32 (ad unguem): Col. (2). ad amussim (also written as one word, admussim: lit. according to the rule or square): the number is not to a n., numerus non est ad a., Varr. R. R. 2, 1, ad fin.: Gell.: also, examussim, Pl. Most. 1, 2, 19; Men. prol. 50. See also, exactly, accurately. II. Fastidiousness; being over particular: 1. fastīdium (esp. in food): such n. as to refuse to touch (certain food), tantum f., ut nollent attingere, Sen. N. Q. 3, 18, 2: Cic. 2. ēlĕgantia (usu. in good sense): Pl. Mil. 4, 6, 20 (with ref. to personal appearance): v. refinement. 3. mōrōsĭtas (over-scrupulousness): Join: affectatio et morositas nimia (de stilo), Suet. Tib. 70. III. In pl. only, excessive refinements: perh. argūtiae, arum (cf. Cic. Am. 13, 45, nihil est quod illi non persequantur suis argutiis): or, spīnae (thorny subtleties, esp. in logic): n.s of division and definition, spinae partiendi et definiendi, Cic. Tusc. 4, 5, init.