etymology · 1000s–1400s
pretty
Drift #2 · May 14, 2026 · attitude
Meaning comparison
Today it means
attractive in appearance
It used to mean (1000s–1400s)
clever; cunning; crafty; ingenious
Etymology
'Pretty' derives from Old English 'prættig' — cunning, wily, tricky. The root 'prætt' meant a trick or craft. Over centuries it softened from sharp intelligence to merely pleasing appearance, shedding every trace of its original deceptive edge.
The Drift
How the meaning shifted over time
the drift
1000scunning; clever; crafty
1300sclever in appearance; neat; fine
1500spleasing; attractive in a minor way
1700s+physically attractive; good-looking
In Historical Context
He was a pretty thief — quick of hand and quicker of mind — who could lift a purse without so much as brushing a sleeve.
drift fact
'Pretty' still carries its old intensifying force in phrases like 'pretty hard' or 'pretty sure' — not attractive, but remarkably so.
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