adj.
Pronunciation: ' pri-t ē , ' p ə r- also ' pru ̇ -
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: pret · ti · er ; -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 , APT
2 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> b chiefly Scottish : STOUT
4 : 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 \ -t ə -l ē \ adverb
– pret · ty · ish \ -t ē -ish \ adjective