Webster's English Dictionary

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pretty

Cross references:
  1. beautiful             
 
1. pret.ty \'prit-e-, 'pu.rt-, 'pru.t-\ \-ish\ aj [ME praty, prety, fr. OE 
   prttig tricky, fr. pr<]a-e>tt trick; akin to ON prettr trick 1a: 
   ARTFUL, CLEVER  1b: PAT, APT  2a: pleasing by delicacy or grace  2b: having 
   conventionally accepted elements of beauty  2c: appearing or sounding 
   pleasant or nice but lacking strength, force, ma nliness, purpose, or 
   intensity 3a: FINE, GOOD - often used ironically  chiefly Scot  3b: STOUT  
   4: moderately large : CONSIDERABLE  - pret.ty.ish aj
2. pret.ty \.pu.rt-e-, p*rt-e- (unstressed p*rt-), .prit-e-, .pru.t-e\ av-; 
   before "near(ly)" often without -e- 1: in some degree : MODERATELY  chiefly 
   dial  2: PRETTILY 
3. pret.ty \'prit-e-, 'pu.rt-e-, 'pru.t-e-\ vt : to make pretty - usu. used 
   with up 
4. pretty \like 3\ n 1: a pretty person or thing  pl  2: dainty clothes; 
   esp : LINGERIE