Pretty
/ˈprɪt.i/noun
(especially of a woman or girl) attractive in a delicate, graceful way without being striking or flashy.
Did you know?In 14th-century England, 'pretty' described crafty tricksters plotting wiles, only later morphing into a beauty compliment as charm equaled clever allure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*prag-
“trick, wile, deceit”
Old English (c. 900)
OE
prættig
“cunning, sly, crafty”
Middle English (c. 1300)
ME
prety
“clever, skillful, astute”
Late Middle English (c. 1400)
ME
praty
“fine, elegant, pleasing”
16th Century
Eng
pretty
“good-looking, beautiful”
Modern English
Eng
pretty
“delicately attractive”