Category:Pretty

Pret"ty, a. [compar. Prettier; superl. Prettiest.] Etym: [oe. prati, As. prættig, prætig, crafty, sly, akin to præt, prætt, deceit, Trickery, icel. prettugr tricky, prettr a trick; probably fr. Latin, Perhaps through celtic; cf. W. praith act, deed, practice, ll. Practica execution, practice, plot. See practice.]

1. Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or Impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight Or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; Pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty Face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem. This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever ran on the greensward. Shak.

2. Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. "wavering a pretty while." Evelyn.

3. Affectedly nice; foppish; -- used in an ill sense. The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world. Spectator.

4. Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty Trick; a pretty fellow.

5. Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant. [scot.] [he] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome. Sir w. Scott.

Syn. -- elegant; neat; fine. See handsome.

Pretty Pret"ty, adv.

Defn: in some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; -- Less emphatic than very; as, i am pretty sure of the fact; pretty Cold weather. Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere christian. Atterbury.