pretty

Where does the word "pretty" come from? It comes from Old English prættig, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Pretty’s story begins in Old English: prættig meant “crafty.” 'cunning, crafty', from prætt 'trick, wile'. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as prety. Softened to 'clever, skilful', then 'fine, pleasing', as of a pretty tale or trick. It reached English by 1500s as pretty. Settled on 'attractive in a delicate way'; the adverb, as in 'pretty good', is recorded from the 1560s. Today, pretty means attractive in a delicate way; to a fair degree.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · medieval prættig "crafty", 'cunning, crafty', from prætt 'trick, wile'.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1400s prety "clever; pleasing", softened to 'clever, skilful', then 'fine, pleasing', as of a pretty tale or trick.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s pretty "attractive; fairly", settled on 'attractive in a delicate way'; the adverb, as in 'pretty good', is recorded from the 1560s.