Main Entry: ¹pret·ty

Pronunciation: \ˈpri-tē, ˈpər- also ˈpru̇-\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): pret·ti·er; pret·ti·est

Etymology: Middle English praty, prety, from Old English prættig tricky, from prætt trick; akin to Old Norse prettr trick

Date: before 12th century

1 a : artful, clever b : pat, apt
2 a : pleasing by delicacy or grace b : having conventionally accepted elements of beauty c : appearing or sounding pleasant or nice but lacking strength, force, manliness, purpose, or intensity <pretty words that make no sense — Elizabeth B. Browning>
3 a : miserable, terrible <a pretty mess you've gotten us into> b chiefly Scottish : stout
4 : moderately large : considerable <a very pretty profit> <cost a pretty penny>
5 : easy to enjoy : pleasant —usually used in negative constructions <reality is not so pretty — Caleb Solomon>

synonyms see beautiful

— pret·ti·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb

— pret·ty·ish \-tē-ish\ adjective