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 , apt2 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> bchiefly Scottish : stout4: 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

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