To make something pretty or prettier; to beautify or adorn.
From 'be-' plus 'pretty,' from Old English 'pratt' (wily) eventually meaning attractive. Means to enhance beauty or appearance.
Shakespeare's contemporaries used this word—you could 'bepretty' your garden, your outfit, or yourself, and the word captures that 16th-century obsession with decoration and ornamentation.
Aesthetic labeling disproportionately applied to women's bodies and appearance as primary value marker since Victorian era. 'Pretty' historically gatekept women's social worth.
Use to describe visual aesthetics neutrally across all subjects. Avoid making appearance central to character or capability assessment.
["visually striking","aesthetically appealing","well-designed"]
Women's intellectual and professional contributions have been historically overshadowed by appearance standards; prioritize substance equally.
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