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Wednesday June 23, 2004

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delectation \dee-lek-TAY-shun\ , noun:
Great pleasure; delight, enjoyment.

In the eighteenth century, the Qing emperor, Qianlong, created . . . a park for his own delectation, full of diminutive Chinese landmarks, so that he could canter round his whole kingdom without leaving home.
-- Kate Lowe and Eugene McLaughlin, "Dollars and dim sum", History Today, June 1995

At other times she'll get so worked up by some pet poeticism that she forgets she's not writing just for her own delectation.
-- David Klinghoffer, "Black madonna", National Review, February 9, 1998

Even after the buffet had evolved into the more functional sideboard in the 18th century, lavish arrangements of silver and porcelain continued to be laid out for the delectation of guests at large dinners.
-- Pilar Viladas, "That's Entertaining!", New York Times, March 24, 2002

Delectation derives from Latin delectatio, from the past participle of delectare, "to please."

Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for delectation

 

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