22 May 09
Originally posted by uzlesswell i could say thats pretty stupid, its not just "hotness" because we sometimes use the term in relation to babies, but i wouldnt want to upset you. there are many words in the english language that have multiple meanings depending upon the context.
We all know what pretty means when we say, "she is pretty". It's a reference to her hotness.
Now, why do we use pretty in this sense here. "I'm pretty tired"
How did the word "Pretty" come to also be defined as somewhere between very and slightly?
Anyone know?
22 May 09
Originally posted by uzlessI don't know why, but we have something similar both in German and in Norwegian. In German, "ganz schön" has a similar meaning to "pretty" in "pretty tired"; "ganz" literally means "entirely", and "schön" means pretty, beautiful etc. In Norwegian, there's the expression "fint lite" meaning "very little" or "almost nothing"; "fint" has lots of meanings including pretty.
We all know what pretty means when we say, "she is pretty". It's a reference to her hotness.
Now, why do we use pretty in this sense here. "I'm pretty tired"
How did the word "Pretty" come to also be defined as somewhere between very and slightly?
Anyone know?
By the way, I think she's pretty ugly. And I am entirely beautifully tired.
22 May 09
Originally posted by eamon oNo spit sherlock. Now read the question again. It's ok if you don't know the answer...you don't need to demonstrate it.
well i could say thats pretty stupid, its not just "hotness" because we sometimes use the term in relation to babies, but i wouldnt want to upset you. there are many words in the english language that have multiple meanings depending upon the context.
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22 May 09
Originally posted by uzlessI've always thought of pretty as being closer to the rating of cuteness myself, not hotness, if I wanted to say someone is hot, I'd probably just say that.
We all know what pretty means when we say, "she is pretty". It's a reference to her hotness.
Now, why do we use pretty in this sense here. "I'm pretty tired"
How did the word "Pretty" come to also be defined as somewhere between very and slightly?
Anyone know?
22 May 09
Originally posted by Sam The ShamA source of something other than something that helps you mean...
Here's a source:
http://www.etymonline.com/
pretty
O.E. prættig (W.Saxon), *prettig (Mercian) "cunning, skillful, artful," from prætt, *prett "a trick, wile, craft," from W.Gmc. *pratt- (cf. O.N. prettr "a trick," prettugr "tricky;" Fris. pret, M.Du. perte, Du. pret "trick, joke," Du. prettig "sportive, funny," Flem. pertig "brisk, clever"😉. Connection between O.E. and M.E. words is uncertain, but if they are the same, meaning had shifted by c.1400 to "manly, gallant," and later moved via "attractive, skillfully made," to "fine," to "beautiful in a slight way" (1440). For sense evolution, compare nice, silly. Used to qualify adjectives and adverbs ("moderately"😉 since 1565. As a verb (usually with up) it is attested from 1916. Prettily is from c.1400; prettify first recorded 1850. Pretty-boy is attested from 1885. A pretty penny "lot of money" is first recorded 1768.
22 May 09
Originally posted by uzlessYou're welcome.
A source of something other than something that helps you mean...
pretty
O.E. prættig (W.Saxon), *prettig (Mercian) "cunning, skillful, artful," from prætt, *prett "a trick, wile, craft," from W.Gmc. *pratt- (cf. O.N. prettr "a trick," prettugr "tricky;" Fris. pret, M.Du. perte, Du. pret "trick, joke," Du. prettig "sportive, funny," Flem. pertig "brisk, ...[text shortened]... ested from 1885. A pretty penny "lot of money" is first recorded 1768.
23 May 09
Originally posted by uzlessIn Dutch it's the same.
We all know what pretty means when we say, "she is pretty". It's a reference to her hotness.
Now, why do we use pretty in this sense here. "I'm pretty tired"
How did the word "Pretty" come to also be defined as somewhere between very and slightly?
Anyone know?
'zij is knap'
'ik ben knap moe'
23 May 09
1 edit
Originally posted by uzlessPretty ungrateful.
A source of something other than something that helps you mean...
pretty
O.E. prættig (W.Saxon), *prettig (Mercian) "cunning, skillful, artful," from prætt, *prett "a trick, wile, craft," from W.Gmc. *pratt- (cf. O.N. prettr "a trick," prettugr "tricky;" Fris. pret, M.Du. perte, Du. pret "trick, joke," Du. prettig "sportive, funny," Flem. pertig "brisk, ested from 1885. A pretty penny "lot of money" is first recorded 1768.
23 May 09
1 edit
Originally posted by uzlessBecause it means attarctive as well as favorable. Such as badmoon has pretty grey hair and badmoon is favorable to a feeling of being tired.
We all know what pretty means when we say, "she is pretty". It's a reference to her hotness.
Now, why do we use pretty in this sense here. "I'm pretty tired"
How did the word "Pretty" come to also be defined as somewhere between very and slightly?
Anyone know?
Don't they have dictionaries in Canuckistan?