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Definition of pretty - 6 dictionary results
pret⋅ty
[prit-ee] 
adjective, -ti⋅er, -ti⋅est, noun, plural -ties, adverb, verb, -tied, -ty⋅ing.–adjective
| 1. | pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness: a pretty face. |
| 2. | (of things, places, etc.) pleasing to the eye, esp. without grandeur. |
| 3. | pleasing to the ear: a pretty tune. |
| 4. | pleasing to the mind or aesthetic taste: He writes pretty little stories. |
| 5. | (often used ironically) fine; grand: This is a pretty mess! |
| 6. | Informal. considerable; fairly great: This accident will cost him a pretty sum. |
| 7. | Archaic or Scot.. brave; hardy. |
–noun
| 8. | Usually, pretties. pretty ornaments, clothes, etc. |
| 9. | a pretty person: Sit down, my pretty. |
–adverb
| 10. | fairly or moderately: Her work was pretty good. |
| 11. | quite; very: The wind blew pretty hard. |
| 12. | Informal. prettily. |
–verb (used with object)
—Idiom| 13. | to make pretty; improve the appearance of (sometimes fol. by up): to pretty oneself for a party; to pretty up a room. |
| 14. | sitting pretty, Informal.
|
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME prati(e), pratte, prettie cunning, gallant, fine, handsome, pretty; OE prættig, prettī cunning, deriv. of prǣtt a trick, wile (c. D part, pret trick, prank, ON prettr trick, prettugr tricky)
bef. 1000; ME prati(e), pratte, prettie cunning, gallant, fine, handsome, pretty; OE prættig, prettī cunning, deriv. of prǣtt a trick, wile (c. D part, pret trick, prank, ON prettr trick, prettugr tricky)
Related forms:
pret⋅ti⋅ly, adverb
pret⋅ti⋅ness, noun
pret⋅ty⋅ish, adjective
Antonyms:
1. ugly.
1. ugly.
Usage note:
The qualifying adverb pretty, meaning “fairly or moderately” has been in general use since the late 16th century. Although most common in informal speech and writing, it is far from restricted to them, and often is less stilted than alternatives such as relatively, moderately, and quite.
The qualifying adverb pretty, meaning “fairly or moderately” has been in general use since the late 16th century. Although most common in informal speech and writing, it is far from restricted to them, and often is less stilted than alternatives such as relatively, moderately, and quite.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To pretty
| pret·ty (prĭt'ē) adj. pret·ti·er, pret·ti·est
To make pretty: pretty up the house. [Middle English prety, clever, fine, handsome, from Old English prættig, cunning, from prætt, trick.] pret'ti·ly adv., pret'ti·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Pretty
Pret"ty\, a. [Compar. Prettier; superl. Prettiest.] [OE. prati, AS. pr[ae]ttig, pr[ae]tig, crafty, sly, akin to pr[ae]t, pr[ae]tt, deceit, trickery, Icel. prettugr tricky, prettr a trick; probably fr. Latin, perhaps through Celtic; cf. W. praith act, deed, practice, LL. practica execution, practice, plot. See Practice.]1. Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem. This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever Ran on the greensward. --Shak. 2. Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. "Wavering a pretty while." --Evelyn. 3. Affectedly nice; foppish; -- used in an ill sense. The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world. --Spectator. 4. Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow. 5. Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant. [Scot.] [He] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome. --Sir W. Scott. Syn: Elegant; neat; fine. See Handsome.Pretty
Pret"ty\, adv. In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; -- less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather. Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian. --Atterbury.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : pretty
Spanish:
bonito, lindo,
German:
hübsch,
Japanese:
かわいい
pretty
O.E. prættig (W.Saxon), *prettig (Mercian) "cunning, skillful, artful," from prætt, *prett "a trick, wile, craft," from W.Gmc. *pratt- (cf. O.N. prettr "a trick," prettugr "tricky;" Fris. pret, M.Du. perte, Du. pret "trick, joke," Du. prettig "sportive, funny," Flem. pertig "brisk, clever"). Connection between O.E. and M.E. words is uncertain, but if they are the same, meaning had shifted by c.1400 to "manly, gallant," and later moved via "attractive, skillfully made," to "fine," to "beautiful in a slight way" (1440). For sense evolution, compare nice, silly. Used to qualify adjectives and adverbs ("moderately") since 1565. As a verb (usually with up) it is attested from 1916. Prettily is from c.1400; prettify first recorded 1850. Pretty-boy is attested from 1885. A pretty penny "lot of money" is first recorded 1768.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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pretty
In addition to the idioms beginning with pretty, also see in a fix (pretty pickle); kettle of fish, pretty; sitting pretty.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
