Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Nice \Nice\, a. [Compar. {Nicer}; superl. {Nicest}.] [OE.,
   foolish, fr. OF. nice ignorant, fool, fr. L. nescius
   ignorant; ne not + scius knowing, scire to know. perhaps
   influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft. See {No}, and
   {Science}.]
   1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate.
      [Obs.] --Gower.

            But say that we ben wise and nothing nice.
                                                  --Chaucer.

   2. Of trifling moment; nimportant; trivial. [Obs.]

            The letter was not nice, but full of charge Of dear
            import.                               --Shak.

   3. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy;
      fastidious in small matters.

            Curious not knowing, not exact but nice. --Pope.

            And to taste Think not I shall be nice. --Milton.

   4. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.

            Dear love, continue nice and chaste.  --Donne.

            A nice and subtile happiness.         --Milton.

   5. Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions;
      distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully
      discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment. ``Our author
      happy in a judge so nice.'' --Pope. ``Nice verbal
      criticism.'' --Coleridge.

   6. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite
      admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great
      skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice
      workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously
      discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice
      point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.

            The difference is too nice Where ends the virtue, or
            begins the vice.                      --Pope.

   7. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a
      nice party; a nice excursion; a nice person; a nice day; a
      nice sauce, etc. [Loosely & Colloquially]

   {To make nice of}, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] --Shak.

   Syn: Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact;
        correct; precise; particular; scrupulous; punctilious;
        fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; silly.