Pretty definition
A pretty maneuver.
A pretty good student.
An example of pretty is a nice sunset.
An example of pretty is actress Ellen Page.
Full of pretty phrases.
A pretty fortune.
In a pretty predicament; a situation that has reached a pretty pass.
Pretty up the house.
An example of pretty is someone having a somewhat good time at a party.
A pretty price.
I'm in a pretty fix.
A pretty move.
To talk pretty.
Pretty sure.
Pretty angry.
"We'll stop at the knife store a look at the sharp pretties.
- For the most part; mostly:
- mostly, almost, more or less, etc.I used up pretty nearly all of the flour.
- in a favorable position
Other Word Forms
Noun
Adjective
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Origin of pretty
- Middle English prety clever, fine, handsome from Old English prættig cunning from prætt trick
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English prety, preti, praty, prati, from Old English prættiÄ¡ (“tricky, crafty, sly, cunning, wily, astute"), from Proto-Germanic *prattugaz (“boastful, sly, slick, deceitful, tricky, cunning"), corresponding to prat (“trick") +"Ž -y. Cognate with Dutch prettig (“nice, pleasant"), dialectal German (East Friesland) prettig (“funny"), Low German pratzig (“arrogant, boastful, haughty"), German protzig (“showy, ostentatious, swanky, pretentious"), Icelandic prettugur (“deceitful, tricky"). For the sense-development, compare canny, clever, cute.
From Wiktionary