pretty

 
Pronunciation: /ˈprɪti/

adjective (prettier, prettiest)

  • 1(of a person, especially a woman or child) attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful: a pretty little girl with an engaging grin
  • (of a thing) pleasing to the eye or the ear: a pretty summer dress
  • 2 [attributive] informal used ironically to express annoyance or displeasure: he led me a pretty dance

adverb

[as submodifier] informal
  • to a moderately high degree; fairly: he looked pretty fit for his age

noun (plural pretties)

informal
  • an attractive thing, especially a trinket: he buys her lots of pretties—bangles and rings
  • used to refer in a condescending way to an attractive person: six pretties in sequined leotards

verb (pretties, prettying, prettied)

[with object]
  • make pretty or attractive: she’ll be all prettied up and ready to go in an hour

Phrases

pretty much (or nearly or well)

informal very nearly: the case is pretty well over

a pretty penny

informal a large sum of money: that car must have cost a pretty penny

pretty please

used as a wheedling form of request.

be sitting pretty

informal be in an advantageous situation: if she could get sponsors, she would be sitting pretty

Derivatives

prettily

adverb

prettiness

noun

prettyish

adjective

Origin:

Old English prættig; related to Middle Dutch pertich 'brisk, clever', obsolete Dutch prettig 'humorous, sporty', from a West Germanic base meaning 'trick'. The sense development 'deceitful, cunning, clever, skilful, admirable, pleasing, nice' has parallels in adjectives such as canny, fine, nice, etc.