pretty English · revision 2485

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000 (Old English prættig)|origins=gem-pro *pratt-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈprɪt.i/, US /ˈprɪt̬.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|prety]] (also [[m|enm|praty]]),^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD 2000) [[inh|ang|prættig|t=cunning, crafty, skilful]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|ang|prætt|t=a trick, wile]] and the suffix that became [[-y]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*pratt-]], a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The OED notes several obscure points in the link between the Old and Middle English words, which is unrecorded in the 13th and 14th centuries except in surnames, but they are generally taken to be the same.^(Etymonline) Its relatives include [[non|prettr|t=a trick]] and [[nl|pret|t=fun, pleasure]], with [[m|nl|prettig|t=pleasant]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cunning, skilful, artful: West Saxon ''prættig'', about 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning moved from “cunning, crafty” to “clever, skilful”, then to “brave” and “admirable, pleasing”, and finally to “attractive” in the 15th century,^(Cresswell 2021)^(COED 2004) a development like that of ''nice'', ''fine'' and ''cunning''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Barnhart records ''praty'' “manly, gallant” probably before 1400, “clever” about 1405, and “handsome, attractive” probably before 1410.^(Barnhart 1988) “Beautiful in a slight or dainty way” dates from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) When Pepys called a doctor “a very pretty man” in 1660 he meant a fine fellow.^(Cresswell 2021) Ironic use, as in ''a pretty mess'', is from the 1530s.^(Etymonline) “Considerable” developed in the 15th century^(Hoad 1986) and is now heard mostly in ''a pretty penny''.^(Cresswell 2021) The adverb “fairly, moderately” is from 1565, in Cooper's ''Thesaurus'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) and ''pretty much'' from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) The noun is recorded in 1736 of things and in 1773 of people.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Prettify'' is from 1850,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''sitting pretty'' is American, from 1915.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''prættig'', cunning.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1400 – manly, gallant.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1405 – clever.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1410 – attractive.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1530s – ironic use.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1565 – adverb, fairly.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1660s – ''pretty much''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1736 – noun, a pretty thing.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1850 – ''prettify''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1915 – ''sitting pretty''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Pleasing or attractive in a delicate or graceful way.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Clever, [[adroit]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(ironic)'' Very bad: ''a pretty mess''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Attractive on the surface but lacking substance.^(AHD)

+ # Considerable in size: ''a pretty penny''.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # To a fair degree; [[moderately]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # In a pretty manner.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A pretty person or thing.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(plural)'' Dainty clothing, especially [[lingerie]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make pretty, often with ''up''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prettily]]

+ * [[prettiness]]

+ * [[prettyish]]

+ * [[unpretty]]

+ * [[none-so-pretty]]

+ * [[prettify]]

+ * [[purdy]]

+ * [[PDQ]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nice]]

+ * [[fine]]

+ * [[cunning]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}