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Definition of pretty - 5 dictionary results

pret⋅ty

  [prit-ee] adjective, -ti⋅er, -ti⋅est, noun, plural -ties, adverb, verb, -tied, -ty⋅ing.
Use pretty 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.
Cite This Source Link To pretty
pret·ty   (prĭt'ē)   
adj.   pret·ti·er, pret·ti·est

  1. Pleasing or attractive in a graceful or delicate way. See Synonyms at beautiful.

  2. Clever; adroit: a pretty maneuver.

  3. Very bad; terrible: in a pretty predicament; a situation that has reached a pretty pass.

  4. Ostensibly or superficially attractive but lacking substance or conviction: full of pretty phrases.

  5. Informal Considerable in size or extent: a pretty fortune.

adv.  

  1. To a fair degree; moderately: a pretty good student.

  2. In a pretty manner; prettily or pleasingly.

n.   pl. pret·ties

  1. One that is pretty.

  2. pretties Delicate clothing, especially lingerie.

tr.v.   pret·tied, pret·ty·ing, pret·ties
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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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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Idioms & Phrases

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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