pretty

Etymology

From Middle English prety, preti, praty, prati, from Old English prættiġ (“tricky, crafty, sly, cunning, wily, astute”), from Proto-Germanic *prattugaz (“boastful, sly, slick, deceitful, tricky, cunning”), corresponding to prat (“trick”) + -y. Cognate with Dutch prettig (“nice, pleasant”), Low German prettig (“funny”), Icelandic prettugur (“deceitful, tricky”). For the semantic development, compare canny, clever, cute.

adj

1. Pleasant to the sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children.
   The face which emerged was not reassuring. […]. He was not a mongol but there was a deficiency of a sort there, and it was not made more pretty by a latter-day hair cut which involved eccentrically long elf-locks and oiled black curls. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 17, in The China Governess
   To escape a violent beating from sailors to whom he has sold a non-functioning car, Jerry takes his stepfamily for a holiday in a trailer park miles away, where, miraculously, young Nick meets a very pretty young woman called Sheeni, played by Portia Doubleday. 4 Feb 2010, Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
2. Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing.
   'Petit Posy' brassicas […] are a cross between kale and brussels sprouts, and are really very pretty with a mild, sweet taste. 13 Feb 2010, Lia Leendertz, The Guardian
3. (often derogatory) Fine-looking; only superficially attractive; initially appealing but having little substance; see petty.
   Damned by the Socialists as "traitors to the working class," its leaders were decried by Tories as "faceless peddlers of politics with a pretty little trinket for every taste." 28 Sep 1962, “New Life for the Liberals”, in Time
4. Cunning; clever, skilful.
   In the end, however, it was a very pretty shot, right across the chasm; killed first fire, and the brute fell headlong into the brook […]. 1877, George Hesekiel, Bayard Taylor, Bismarck his Authentic Biography, page 380
5. (dated) Moderately large; considerable.
   "What did you do to your hair?" The answer could be worth a pretty penny for L'Oreal. 26 Jan 2004, “Because They're Worth it”, in Time
6. (dated) Excellent, commendable, pleasing; fitting or proper (of actions, thoughts etc.).
   ‘This new fashion of introducing the candidate's children into an election contest is a pretty one,’ said Mrs. Panstreppon; ‘it takes away something from the acerbity of party warfare, and it makes an interesting experience for the children to look back on in after years.’ 1919, Saki, ‘The Oversight’, The Toys of Peace
   "Oh, Jake." Brett said, "we could have had such a damned good time together." Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me. "Yes", I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?" 1926, Ernest Hemingway, The sun also rises, page 251
7. (ironic) Awkward, unpleasant.
   "Nay, not I; it is a pretty thing to expect me to wash them; you may take them back again, and say, as Sally had them before, she may wash them now, for me; I am not going to be 'Jack at a pinch,' I can tell you." 1839, The Cottager's Monthly Visitor, volume 19, page 270
   A pretty thing it would be if a man of business had to examine every cab-horse before he hired it 1877, Anna Sewell, Black Beauty
   His sadistic self-torturings finally landed him in a pretty mess: still completely married, practically sure he was in love with Tillie, he made dishonorable proposals of marriage to two other women. 26 Jan 1931, “Done to a Turn”, in Time
   "[…] you can still see where the kid's face is swollen up from this talk: couple of black eyes, lip all busted up, nose over sideways," Driscoll shook his head again, "just a real pretty picture." 1995, Les Standiford, Deal to die for, page 123

adv

1. Somewhat, fairly, quite; sometimes also (by meiosis) very.
   By the Sheets you have sent me to peruse, the Account you have given of her Birth and Parentage is pretty exact …. 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of Sally Salisbury, section V
   Pauſanias's account is related pretty faithfully there, if we except two errors, one, that Arcas an Olympian mixed ſome Hippomanes with the brazen ſtatue, the other that he caſt a mare. 1741, [Pierre] Bayle, “A Dissertation Concerning the Hippomanes”, in John Peter Bernard, Thomas Birch, John Lockman, et al., transl., A General Dictionary, Historical and Critical:[…], volume X, London: […] James Bettenham, for G[eorge] Strahan, J. Clarke,[…], →OCLC, page 361
   I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn. 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
   The Revolutionary decade was a pretty challenging time for business. 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 539
2. (dialect) Prettily, in a pretty manner.
   'The boy sings pretty, don't he, Master Marner?' 1861, George Eliot, Silas Marner, London: Penguin Books, published 1967, page 139

noun

1. A pretty person; a term of address to a pretty person.
   I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too! 1939, Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, Edgar Allan Woolf, The Wizard of Oz
2. Something that is pretty.
   We'll stop at the knife store and look at the sharp pretties.

verb

1. To make pretty; to beautify
   He sat on the hearth rug and began prettying the dog's coat. 2007, Eric Knight, Lassie Come-Home, page 29