What does "pretty" mean?
Pretty: Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. "Wavering a pretty while." Evelyn.
Additional senses
- 2.Affectedly nice; foppish; -- used in an ill sense. The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world. Spectator.
- 3.Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.
- 4.Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant. [Scot.] [He] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome. Sir W. Scott. See Handsome.
- 5.In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; -- less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather. Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian. Atterbury.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00