pretty
English
/ˈpɹɪti/, /ˈpɝti/, /ˈpɹʊti/
adj
Definitions
- Pleasant to the sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children, but less strikingly than something beautiful.
- Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing.
- (often) Fine-looking; only superficially attractive; initially appealing but having little substance; see petty (petty).
- Cunning; clever, skilful.
- (dated) Moderately large; considerable.
- (dated) Excellent, commendable, pleasing; fitting or proper (of actions, thoughts etc.).
- (ironic) Awkward, unpleasant.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English prety inherited from Old English prættiġ (wily, sly, astute, cunning, tricky, crafty) inherited from Proto-Germanic *prattugaz (tricky, deceitful, cunning, sly, boastful, slick) suf from English prat (trick, prank).
Origin
English
prat
Gloss
trick, prank
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- near English
- pertineer English
- prat English
- pratfall English
- prattery English
- prattish English
- pratty English
- prettification English
- prettifier English
- prettiful English
- prettify English
- prettily English
- prettiness English
- prettyish English
- prettyism English
- prettysome English
- unprettily English
- unprettiness English
- unpretty English
- pret Dutch, Flemish
- prettig Dutch, Flemish
- *prattugaz Proto-Germanic
- プリティー Japanese
- prættiġ Old English
- prat Middle English
- prety Middle English
- حَفْنة Arabic
- ħafna Maltese