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Definition of pretty up - 3 dictionary results

pret⋅ty

  [prit-ee] adjective, -ti⋅er, -ti⋅est, noun, plural -ties, adverb, verb, -tied, -ty⋅ing.
Use pretty up in a Sentence
–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)
13. to make pretty; improve the appearance of (sometimes fol. by up): to pretty oneself for a party; to pretty up a room.
—Idiom
14. sitting pretty, Informal.
a. in an advantageous position.
b. well-to-do; successful.
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)

Related forms:
pret⋅ti⋅ly, adverb
pret⋅ti⋅ness, noun
pret⋅ty⋅ish, adjective

Synonyms:
1. See beautiful. 2–4. pleasant. 10. somewhat.

Antonyms:
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Slang Dictionary
pretty

  1. mod.
    very. : I'm pretty busy at the moment.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

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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