Talk:pretty

Removal

Removed the following definitions:

1. Not functional or supposedly so.

   pretty buttons

2. Unpleasant (in some cases)

   pretty state of affairs

as they are not really definitions of pretty, but usages of the first sense. 1. acquires its meaning by overly faint praise, implying the item is otherwise useless. 2. acquires its meaning by simple irony or sarcasm. -114.91.97.201 05:02, 26 May 2009 (UTC)

We don't change definitions that way. We challenge definitions through the WT:RFD and WT:RFV processes. In this case other dictionaries have at least one of the senses you challenge. I will enter a challenge for the other one. Also the Hemingway quote may illustrate a sense that is not present, but is one of my favorite uses of the term. Is it ironic? Sarcastic? Is it playing with multiple senses? DCDuring TALK 12:51, 26 May 2009 (UTC)

RFV

Please see this RFV discussion. — Beobach 00:11, 2 December 2010 (UTC)

9th century

Cunning; clever, skilful. [from 9th c.] - but example is from 19th century 78.10.216.131 18:21, 8 March 2015 (UTC)

"From" in this case means "since". (This is why I advocate just using "since"...) The sense has been attested since the 9th century, and it was still attested in the 19th century. - -sche (discuss) 04:22, 9 March 2015 (UTC)

What else could ‘from’ possibly mean? Ƿidsiþ 07:45, 9 March 2015 (UTC)

Obviously: It could mean that there are attestations from the 9th century, instead of from the 9th century onward. And the former is indeed what it seems to have meant to the person who asked...

Missing adjective senses?

Chambers 1908 has:

• puny, weak (a term of endearment)
• (obsolete) strong, warlike.

Equinox ◑ 07:46, 11 December 2019 (UTC)

pretties (plural noun) (U.S.) lingerie

pretties (plural noun) (U.S.) feminine sleepwear or underwear (informal) --Backinstadiums (talk) 11:44, 22 September 2020 (UTC)

Pronunciation

According to LPD, AmE casual forms ˈpɝːt̬i, ˈprʊt̬i --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:40, 15 August 2021 (UTC)

Adverb

Fowler says

Pretty was once in regular use as an ironical adjective, come to a pretty pass. Especially in informal contexts, also as an adverb meaning ‘fairly, moderately’ (he did pretty much what he liked ), but only when qualifying another adverb/adjective. Otherwise the adverb is prettily, except in sitting pretty 

Garner reads

It is still considered informal or colloquial. It sometimes conveys a shade of doubt —pretty clear being less certain in some readers’ minds than clear. --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:04, 15 August 2021 (UTC)

1. vs. "very" 2. not in negative sentences

Pretty does not mean the same as very: It was very/*pretty kind of you to lend us your car when we stayed with you. 2. We don’t use pretty in negative sentences: The restaurant wasn’t very/so/*pretty good, really. --Backinstadiums (talk) 10:51, 25 August 2021 (UTC)