Word: pretty Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English prety, preti, praty, prati, from Old English prættiġ (“tricky, crafty, sly, cunning, wily, astute”), from Proto-West Germanic *prattug, from Proto-Germanic *prattugaz (“boastful, sly, slick, deceitful, tricky, cunning”), corresponding to prat (“trick”) + -y. Doublet of pratty. Cognate with Dutch prettig (“nice, pleasant”), Low German prettig (“funny”), Icelandic prettugur (“deceitful, tricky”). For the semantic development, compare canny, clever, cute. Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɪt.i/, [ˈpɹɪɾ.i], /ˈpɜɹ.ti/, /ˈpɹʊt.i/, /ˈpɔɪ.ti/ 1. Pleasant to the sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children. Example: Having brought it to a close, he took his way to the Kursaal. The great German watering-place is one of the prettiest nooks in Europe, and of a summer evening in the gaming days, five-and-twenty years ago, it was one of the most brilliant scenes. Example: Hal Smith, manager of the Ferry Field theatre, Detroit, one of the largest and prettiest outskirt houses in town, played Metro's "Revelation" for three days last week 2. Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing. Example: Some fans may have mistaken the album’s floatiness for aimlessness, but Mr. Mercer’s songs have never been sneakier, or prettier. Example: 'Petit Posy' brassicas […] are a cross between kale and brussels sprouts, and are really very pretty with a mild, sweet taste. 3. Fine-looking; only superficially attractive; initially appealing but having little substance; see petty. Labels: derogatory, often Example: 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." 4. Effeminate. Labels: UK, derogatory, sometimes 5. Cunning; clever, skilful. Example: 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 […]. 6. Moderately large; considerable. Labels: dated Example: they flung all the goods in the house out at the windows into the street, or into the sea, as they supposed; thus they continued mad a pretty season […]. Example: "What did you do to your hair?" The answer could be worth a pretty penny for L'Oreal. 7. Excellent, commendable, pleasing; fitting or proper (of actions, thoughts etc.). Labels: dated Example: Some people are surprised, I believe, that that the eldest was not [named after his father], but Isabella would have him named Henry, which I thought very pretty of her. Example: ‘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.’ 8. Awkward, unpleasant, bad. Labels: ironic Example: "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." Example: [A] pretty thing it would be, if a man of business had to examine every cab-horse before he hired it—[…] 9. Matching commonly accepted principles of formatting and syntax, for the sake of readability.