pretty

a. [ Compar. Prettier superl. Prettiest. ] [ OE. prati, AS. prættig, prætig, crafty, sly, akin to præt, prætt, deceit, trickery, Icel. prettugr tricky, prettr a trick; probably fr. Latin, perhaps through Celtic; cf. W. praith act, deed, practice, LL. practica execution, practice, plot. See Practice. ] 1. Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever
Ran on the greensward. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. “Wavering a pretty while.” Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Affectedly nice; foppish; -- used in an ill sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Elegant; neat; fine. See Handsome. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; -- less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Somewhat pretty. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Affectation of a pretty style, manner, etc. [ R. ] Ed. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]