pretty — attractive in a delicate way without being beautiful
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: attractive in a delicate way without being beautiful
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈprɪti/
Example Sentences
- My cat thinks she's pretty, but she's just a potato with legs.
- I'm pretty sure I put my keys somewhere... pretty sure they're in another dimension now.
- The flowers in the garden are pretty.
pretty
ADJECTIVE[/ˈprɪti/]
attractive in a delicate way without being beautiful
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Pretty derives from Middle English 'pretti', meaning 'cunning' or 'clever'. Over time, the word underwent semantic shift, acquiring the positive connotation of 'beautiful' or 'attractive' by the early modern period.
Breakdown
prettī (cunning, clever) → pretty (beautiful). The morphological transformation reflects a semantic evolution from intelligence/wit to aesthetic appeal rather than a change in root morphemes.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat thinks she's pretty, but she's just a potato with legs.”
“I'm pretty sure I put my keys somewhere... pretty sure they're in another dimension now.”
“The flowers in the garden are pretty.”
“This homework is pretty difficult.”
📚Related Words
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