Pretty

(prĭt'ty), a. [compar. PRETTIER; superl. PRETTIEST.] [A-S. prættig, prǣtig, prǣte, prǣtt, adorned, pretty, crafty, sly. Cf. Prov. Ger. prütig, ready, prompt.]

1Sense 1. Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; exciting pleasure and liking rather than admiration and awe; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; as, a pretty face; a pretty person; a pretty flower.

That which is little can be but pretty, and by claiming dignity becomes ridiculous. Johnson.

2Sense 2. Moderately large; considerable. [Obs.] “Wavering a pretty while.” Evelyn.

Cut off the stalks of cucumbers immediately after their bearing, close by the earth, and then cast a pretty quantity of earth upon the plant, and they will bear next year before the ordinary time. Bacon.

3Sense 3. Affectedly nice; foppish; petty; — used in an ill sense.

The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant creature in the world. Spectator.

4Sense 4. Mean; despicable; contemptible; — used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.

Synonyms— Handsome; elegant; neat; fine. See HANDSOME.

(prĭt'ty̆), adv. In some degree; tolerably; moderately; quite; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; the wind is pretty fair.

The writer pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian. Atterbury.

☞ In these and similar phrases, pretty expresses less than very.