Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a cunning manner; cunningly; cleverly.
  • Excellently; well.
  • In a pretty or pleasing manner; with neatness and taste; pleasingly; gracefully.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a pretty manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a pretty manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a pretty manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

pretty +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • They don't like me because I can't be always tidy and what they call prettily behaved, and because I hate walking on the parade and being stuck up and unnatural, and they don't like me because I am not pretty, and because I am thin and don't look, as mamma says, a credit to her; but it is not that so much as because of Robert.

    Rujub, the Juggler 1867

  • She used the name prettily, half shyly, with one of her luminous, friendly looks.

    The Lee Shore Rose Macaulay 1919

  • And the numskulls will call you a 'rare powerful rousin' preacher '-- isn't that the way they go on? and when you die -- for die you must, most unfortunately -- they will give you a three-cornered block of granite (if they can make up their minds to part with the necessary bawbees) with your name prettily engraved thereon.

    Thelma Marie Corelli 1889

  • a bottle-bird's nest, hanging very prettily from the branch of the prickly mimosa.

    Three Months in the Soudan 1885

  • Margot prettily attired, a pleasure in which the young lady herself fully concurred.

    Big Game A Story for Girls George de Horne Vaizey 1887

  • Cambridge, and a couple of apothecarys; these maintaining chymistry against them Galenicall physique; and the truth is, one of the apothecarys whom they charged most, did speak very prettily, that is, his language and sense good, though perhaps he might not be so knowing a physician as to offer to contest with them.

    Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 25: November/December 1663 Samuel Pepys 1668

  • Academia. edu largely aggregates information, albeit very prettily, which is already available through online journals, academic mailing lists and databases such as

    RMM Rob Meiklejohn 2010

  • Pollyooly was pleased that he should have a playmate of his own age; the little girl's nurse, observing that they were dressed as other children and that Pollyooly spoke "prettily," and was inclined to be uncommonly haughty with her, assented to the acquaintance.

    Happy Pollyooly The Rich Little Poor Girl Edgar Jepson 1900

  • She would yawn, as she believed "prettily," but certainly noisily; or she would wonder "how time was going," and of course her twenty-guinea watch never went, or if it was going was seldom within one hour of the actual time.

    Mrs. Warren's Daughter A Story of the Woman's Movement Harry Hamilton Johnston 1892

  • The lines of her face make her look very serious, but she smiles prettily when Bailey says, Mom, this is Ella, my friend from school.

    Camo Girl Kekla magoon 2011

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