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How did "pretty" come to mean "sort of" or "somewhat?"
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How was your day?
Pretty good.
How or why did this happen to this word which originally meant beautiful, pleasing to the eye, etc?
Top Comment: From what I can gather, this is what’s called a “conversion word.” Where the word itself (its “form”) doesn’t change, but the word’s part of speech does. Before the mid 1500s, pretty (also spelled pretie, prety, and prettie) was only an adjective. By end of the century, it started to be used as an adverb (the usage you’re describing) as well. Per the OED, one use of pretty as an adjective meant “considerable, sizable. A pretty many” (meaning a good many, or a lot). It was used this way from the 1400s on. In the mid to late 1500s it shifted. There’s a use from 1577: “Berlady tis prety good meate.” And then in 1598 a usage that’s definitely connected to the one you’re talking about: “Boccace is prettie hard, yet understood: Petrarche harder but explaned.” It was likely “converted” verbally and then the written word caught up. I know that’s not the most complete answer, but hopefully it’s satisfying enough? I’m just a word nerd who recently discovered most public library cards provide online access to the Oxford English Dictionary, so if any experts see this and know I’ve gotten something wrong, feel free to correct me! :) Edited for grammar and clarity
What's the difference between pretty, beautiful and gorgeous?
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The title says it all. I assume that one is more polite than other, or more poetic maybe, but I'm not sure if there's any other difference but the "scenario" in which each is used.
Top Comment: "Pretty" is used to describe someone who is attractive. It can refer to physical appearance or the overall look of a person. It's a more casual and everyday term. "Beautiful" is used to describe someone who is striking, lovely, or aesthetically pleasing. This word is used in a wide range of contexts, from describing natural landscapes to works of art. It suggests a higher level of attractiveness than "pretty". "Gorgeous" describes someone or something as extremely attractive, stunning, or breathtakingly beautiful. This term is often used when the appearance of a person or object is particularly striking and impressive.
What's its like being pretty?
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Have you guys ever experienced pretty privilege or been treated differently because of your looks
Top Comment: I have been everything from overweight when I was younger, to fit and in shape in later life. I saw the change. There is a huge difference in how people (both guys and girls) treat me now. As a man to clarify. Much higher level of respect and general interest from everyone.
How do many pretty people don't know how pretty they are?
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(I am not talking about those good looking people that THEY KNOW they look great but constantly say "ooh I'm ugly", "ooh sorry for ruining ur pics" bc they look for validation/attention)
I've seen MANY people that are like 10/10 and they genuinely thought they're a 5/10 or even 4/10. This girl in my school literally looks like a GODDESS. She's never been that type to say "ugh I'm so mid and ugly". And also she's never flexed on others bc of her beauty. I always thought she knew how gorgeous she is. But turns out she honestly thought she's a 5/10 at best! I've told her on multiple occasion that she's so pretty. (I rarely comment on how pretty other ppl look. But that was not the case with her. Bc she was like a 1000/10)
Yesterday she randomly told me that before my comments she never really believed she's that pretty. And I was mind blown. She brought it up bc she told me she's put more pics of herself on her pfp bc now she really believes she's pretty.
I mean I get it part of it is bc of confidence and insecurities that most people have in their youth (we're both 19). But how can someone that's THAT pretty not know she's WAY above average.
This is shocking to me bc I've always had a good perception of my looks. I'm very much an average gal. I'm normally a 4/10. And on great days I'm a 6 /10. I thought everyone else knew exactly how pretty they are!
Top Comment: Self-esteem is more powerful than any mirror. You could be objectively gorgeous and it doesn’t matter, because if the voice inside you says you’re a piece of shit, constantly, nothing you see is going to change that. Shitty comments echo in our brain so much more than positive ones do, doesn’t matter what the outside looks like, our brains trick us. I look back at photos of myself from my early 20s when I hated how I looked, I felt disgusting, I thought I was so ugly. I was objectively cute. I was so cute! I just could not see it at the time. Looking back, I have much higher self esteem but also perspective - I know how bad my self esteem was back then and I know/can feel how much better I feel about myself as a person now, more solid in who I am internally, so the external/my body matters differently. I respect my body now for what it does for me and I look back at those old photos and think “I wish I could see myself back then through my eyes now”
pretty women, how does it feel?
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how does the confidence feel? how does it feel to look in the mirror and love how you look? how does it feel to walk around all day feeling like you look nice?
I probably sound like I'm being sarcastic or something but I'm genuinely curious. I'm not pretty, never have been, and I usually can't name a single positive trait in my appearance. I've never looked at myself in the mirror or a picture and thought I looked good. I want to know what goes through your mind when you feel confident while looking at yourself.
Top Comment: I always knew that I was pretty but when I was younger I didn’t have enough confidence in myself. I was very shy and kept to myself for the most part. I had friends but I had a low self esteem and didn’t really date anyone in high school. I didn’t think the guys actually liked me. It wasn’t until after high school that I broke out of my shell and started dressing differently and had more confidence in myself. I even found out from a guy friend that apparently every guy in school liked me. I knew I was pretty and I loved it and the attention I got but then I became self conscious in other ways because of it. I always felt like I had to look good. I couldn’t leave the house if my hair wasn’t perfect type of thing. I always felt like other people judged me and were looking for flaws in me especially by other women. As far as men go, I got a lot of attention from them but I couldn’t tell if they actually liked me for me or just wanted to sleep with me. In some ways it felt good being pretty because certain things were easier and I definitely used it to my advantage. I knew people acted differently around me because of it. At the same time I dealt with people being mean to me because of being pretty.
I like pretty girls
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The fresh prince is back.
Top Comment: His wife likes pretty boys lol
From a male's perspective, what's your definition of hot, pretty, and cute for a female?
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As a female, I've only been told I'm cute. I don't know if it's a good thing or not. I want to be considered "hot" at times, but I also embrace being cute. Can one woman be all 3 at different times? Does it depend on what she looks like, or can it change with clothes, makeup, and/or setting?
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I need a guide on how to be pretty.
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Hi!
I (23F) am a lurker, so please bear with me.
I grew up in a very conservative household, so that meant no nice clothes, no makeup, perfume, nada. I never had any feminine role models to be guided by to become a more elegant woman, and so I never had that Princess Diaries glow up that Mia had. I remained the ugly duckling of the bunch even now, and dare I say I look like a genderbend version of Danny DeVito. I am not here to just dump my insecurities onto everyone, but I really wish to just be a girl like any other. All the girls around me and my age are elegant, poised, proud, always wear makeup and nice clothes, have boyfriends, etc. and I am very dull by comparison. I don't know what to do or how to start or what could help me.
PS: I am plus-sized, wear glasses, and have thin hair. Thankfully, my acne has subsidised. My depression and anxiety are kind of holding me back from trying to get better.
Top Comment: i had the same issue, and for me i realised that it was mostly because i was not confident enough. honestly for me it was just getting rid of my glasses (wear contacts instead) and putting on a little makeup and skincare. this really helps to boost confidence and honestly, after a while, the "glow up" will come naturally. every girl i've ever seen is pretty, it's just a pity that we don't see it but all we need is a small push to realise it. i recommend starting off with a simple makeup kit of a tinted moisturiser, mascara, tinted lip balm and an eyebrow pencil, and for skincare, a cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen in the day, and a makeup remover, cleanser, moisturiser at night. for me, these helped with boosting my confidence and it made me feel good about myself so i started getting more into it, hope it would do the same for you! as for clothes, honestly try different styles and see what makes you feel the most comfortable, because in past experiences, only when you are comfortable, will you be able to exude confidence and confidence really changes someone (like in terms of how you act which contributes to "glowing up") this was pretty much what i did which had people telling me i "glowed up", but based on my past experience, it's really how you confident you are. hope this helps!
How would i know if i am pretty? : r/self
Main Post: How would i know if i am pretty? : r/self
What's the difference between "beautiful", "pretty", and "cute"?
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I've seen people throe these words around at various good looking people. I always thought they were interchangeable, but I once saw someone say on r/trueratecelebrities "I wouldn't call her beautiful, but she's definitely pretty"
Top Comment: Cute is aw Pretty is wow Beautiful is woah
Being able to do motorcycle stunts in a Zelda was still pretty crazy
Main Post: Being able to do motorcycle stunts in a Zelda was still pretty crazy
Top Comment: Nothing in TotK compares to the Master Cycle Zero and I’m saying that out of sadness 😔