The devolution of English language and slothful c.l.p behaviors exposed!

[alex23]

Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.pyt... at pearwood.info> wrote:
> The Oxford Dictionary lists the first definition of "pretty" as
>
>     Orig. cunning, crafty. Later (of a person) clever, skillful;
>    (of a thing) cleverly made or done, ingenious, artful.
>
> and states that it is derived from Old English praettig, "capricious,
> overbearing".

Whereas the Dutch term prettig means "agreeable, gratifying,
pleasant"; I strongly suspect the meaning of the English term evolved
as a result of the commonality.