pretty
/ˈprɪti/
adjective
Origin
Old English
prættig — crafty, wily, sly
Overview
Meaning Now
- Attractive in a delicate or graceful way.
- Moderately or considerably (used as an adverb before adjectives or adverbs).
Literal older meaning
cunning, crafty, or skillful
Language path
Old English → Middle English → Modern English
Earliest form
prety
Earliest period
15th century
Journey
The word underwent a significant semantic amelioration. Originally, it described a person who was 'tricky' or 'crafty' in a way that implied intelligence. Over time, this shifted to describe someone or something that was 'neatly' or 'skillfully' made, eventually evolving into the modern sense of physical attractiveness.
Evolution
- Old English
prættig
“cunning or skillful”
Derived from 'præt' meaning trick or craft.
- Middle English
prety
“clever, ingenious, later attractive”
Semantic broadening occurred in the 15th century.
- Early Modern English
pretty
“graceful, pleasing, or elegant”
The meaning shifted from external 'cleverness' to internal 'pleasing appearance'.
Connections
Word parts
pret-
root
trick or craft
-ty
suffix
adjectival suffix
Related across languages
Old English
præt
trick
Low German
pratt
cunning or sly
Explore next
Related to pretty
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.