Middle English Dictionary Entry
pratī(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | pratī(e adj. Also prattẹ̄, pratti, prettie, (?error) prete & (surname) pritti; sup. pretiest. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. WS prættig; K prettī; Merc. *pretti(g. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Cunning, crafty, clever; of a bee: skillful.
Associated quotations
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)991 : Of alle þe bestes..The bee in his bisynes beste is allowed..And pretiest in his wirching to profite of þe peuple.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)164/3 : They by their good wysedome and praty cauteles can putt awey euell suspeccion of the people.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)572 : Titivillus kan lerne yow many praty thyngys.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)591 : A praty game xall be scheude yow or ȝe go hens.
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)615 : Ther was no mete cam her before, Butt she ete itt vp lesse and more, That praty, fowlle dameselle.
2.
(a) Manly, gallant, fine; ~ man (swein), a worthy or clever man, fine fellow; (b) fair-sized; considerable, great; (c) of a beating: sound.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)14282 : Owte þere comen a praty meyne, wel two thousend j-armed ful bryht.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)170/276 : He schall, and he haue liff, Proue till a praty swayne.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10815 : Euen before in þe frunt of þat faire yle, Was a prouynse of prise, & praty men in.
- a1450 Lestenit lordynges I you beseke (Sln 2593)p.279 : Che seyde I was a praty manne And wel cowde bere myn basela[rd].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)279/219 : Go þi way, praty masanger, and comawnde me.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)98b : Praty: prestans.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)186/41 : How, prettye Pratte, my messingere, come hither to me withouten weare!
b
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk B (Hrl 2340)35a : For A hawke þat may not caste, gyfe hyr halowynsicatre þe quantite of A praty castyng.
- a1500 LChart.Chr.B (Cmb Ff.2.38)67/236 : Here may þou now see That y am kyng of prete [?read: grete; vr. gret] pouste.
c
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)89 : Go to! for I haue hade a praty scottlynge.
3.
(a) Handsome, shapely, well-proportioned, pretty; (b) of objects: pleasing to look at, well-made, handsome, fine; (c) of words or thoughts: well-conceived, apt, elegant, charming; (d) enjoyable, pleasant; of a glance: charming, sweet.
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)159 : Fetyce, or praty: Parvunculus, elegantulus.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)411 : Praty: Elegans, formosus, elegantulus, formulosus.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)440/14 : Þer was a fayr yong man..and he was so pratie & so defte at yong wommen wex evyn fond on hym.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)189/5640 : O praty on, now thynkith what distresse It is to loue and not be louyd agayne.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)458 : Lytyll erys, lytill mouthe, the fete praty with all, A lover on to thenke hyt is a cordyall.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)815 : Met and drynke and ease, I aske no mare, Ande a praty wenche, to se here bare.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)202/19 : There come to hire a pratie yonge man and a wel i-schape.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.68 : Sum..among þe prestes syt ffull nere, With praty contenance to make þem chere.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)135/607 : A pratty child is he As syttys on a wamans kne.
b
- (1442) RParl.5.59b : Atte Wynchelse, ii Barges, one of Morefores called the Marie, and that other pratte Barge called Trinite.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)27.228 : The Ademawnt..hath no More strengthe Aȝens the Eyr..Thanne A lytel praty fownteyne Aȝens Al the grete See.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)123 : A fair cherch it is and a praty place annexid þerto.
- (1472) Paston (EETS)1.579 : Forget not..to get..som praty flowyr of the same pryse and not vndyr.
- (1473) Paston (EETS)1.465 : I sende a lytell praty boxe herwith.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)96/459 : I haue hyryd for us a lytyl praty hous.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)81 : In al hast he cast for to make Withyn his hous a praty litel cage.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)244/34 : Their [the bees'] kyng..regnith among them vndir a litill praty roofe.
c
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)7/192 : I..callid vnto me hope..As in my childisshe witt if y koude grope Sum praty thing that myght hir plesere bene.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)52/1536 : So be ye lust to him write Sum praty word of yowre benygne bounte.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)46 : He woll with his praty wordis & pleys make me foryete my anger.
- c1500 PFulham (Trin-C R.3.19)p.117 : Piers of ffulham..hath brieflye compyled many praty conceytis in loue under covert termes of ffysshyng and ffowlyng.
d
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)13/366 : Y trust more to attayne; I had a praty look yit yestirday, As me reportid hath myn eyen twayne.
- c1500 O lorde so (Hnt EL 1160)18 : Ser Iohn geuyth me relyus [read: reluys] rynges, With praty plesure ffor to assay.
4.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 218 : Simone Praty.
- (1304) Acc.Chester in LCRS 5950 : Henry Praty.
- -?-(1343) Reg.Kellawe in RS 62.3131 : Johannes Pratyman.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 5148 : Willelmus Pritty.