英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

pretermit (v.)[pretermit 词源字典]: 1510s, from Latin praetermittere "let pass, overlook," from praeter- (see preter-) + mittere (see mission). Related: Pretermitted; pretermitting.[pretermit etymology, pretermit origin, 英语词源]
preternatural (adj.): 1570s, from Medieval Latin preternaturalis (mid-13c.), from Latin phrase praeter naturam (praeterque fatum) "beyond nature (and beyond fate)," from praeter "beyond" (see preterite) + accusative of natura "nature" (see natural). "Preternatural is used especially to note that which might have been a work of nature, but is not" [Century Dictionary].
preterperfect (n.): 1530s, from Late Latin praeteritum perfectum "complete past;" see preter- + perfect (adj.). Related: Preterpluperfect.
pretest: also pre-test, 1949 (v. and n.), from pre- + test.
pretext (n.): 1510s, from French prétexte, from Latin praetextum "a pretext, outward display," noun use of neuter past participle of praetexere "to disguise, cover," literally "weave in front" (for sense, compare pull the wool over (someone's) eyes); from prae- "in front" (see pre-) + texere "to weave," from PIE root *teks- "to weave, to make" (see texture (n.)).
pretrial (n.): "preliminary hearing before a trial," 1938, American English, from pre- + trial.
prettification (n.): 1902, noun of action from prettify.
prettify (v.): 1836, from pretty (adj.) + -fy. Related: Prettified; prettifying.
prettily (adv.): early 15c., from pretty (adj.) + -ly (2).
prettiness (n.): 1520s, from pretty + -ness.
pretty (adj.): Old English prættig (West Saxon), pretti (Kentish), *prettig (Mercian) "cunning, skillful, artful, wily, astute," from prætt, *prett "a trick, wile, craft," from Proto-Germanic *pratt- (cognates: Old Norse prettr "a trick," prettugr "tricky;" Frisian pret, Middle Dutch perte, Dutch pret "trick, joke," Dutch prettig "sportive, funny," Flemish pertig "brisk, clever"), of unknown origin.

Connection between Old English and Middle English 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" (mid-15c.). Ironical use from 1530s. For sense evolution, compare nice, silly. Also used of bees (c. 1400). "After the OE. period the word is unknown till the 15th c., when it becomes all at once frequent in various senses, none identical with the OE., though derivable from it" [OED].

Meaning "not a few, considerable" is from late 15c. With a sense of "moderately," qualifying adjectives and adverbs, since 1560s. Pretty please as an emphatic plea is attested from 1902. A pretty penny "lot of money" is first recorded 1768.
pretty (n.): "a pretty person or thing," 1736, from pretty (adj.).
pretty (v.): 1916, usually with up, from pretty (adj.). Related: Prettied; prettying. Compare prettify.
pretty-boy: 1885 as an adjective, 1888 as a noun, from pretty (adj.) + boy (n.). In Middle English a pretty man was "a worthy or clever fellow."
pretzel (n.): 1851, from German Prezel, also Brezel, from Middle High German brezel, prezel, from Old High German brezitella, brecedela, from Medieval Latin *brachitella, presumably a kind of biscuit baked in the shape of folded arms (source also of Italian bracciatella, Old Provençal brassadel), diminutive of Latin bracchiatus "with branches, with arms," from bracchium "an arm, a forearm," from Greek brakhion "an arm" (see brachio-).
prevail (v.): c. 1400, "be successful; be efficacious," from Old French prevaleir (Modern French prévaloir) and directly from Latin praevalere "be stronger, have greater power," from prae "before" (see pre-) + valere "have power, be strong" (see valiant). Spelling in English perhaps influenced by avail. Related: Prevailed; prevailing.
prevailing (adj.): 1590s, "vigorous;" 1680s, "widely accepted," present participle adjective from prevail (v.).
prevalence (n.): 1590s, "fact of having mastery," from Middle French prévalence (15c.), from Late Latin praevalentia, from praevalens, present participle of praevalere (see prevalent). Meaning "condition of being widespread or general" is from 1713.
prevalent (adj.): early 15c., "having great power or force," from Latin praevalentem (nominative praevalens) "of superior strength; mighty," present participle of praevalere "to be more able" (see prevail). Meaning "extensively existing, in general use" is from 1650s.
prevaricate (v.): 1580s, "to transgress," a back formation from prevarication, or else from Latin praevaricatus, past participle of praevaricari "to make a sham accusation, deviate," literally "walk crookedly;" in Church Latin, "to transgress" (see prevarication). Meaning "to speak evasively" is from 1630s. Related: Prevaricated; prevaricating.