The word “cute,” back in the days when it was short for “acute,” meant shrewd or perceptive or calculating (though it has also meant bow-legged!). “Cute” in the sense in which we use it today was considered schoolboy slang in the 19th century. “Awful” used to mean awe-inspiring.
Etymology. Aphetic form of acute, originally “keenly perceptive or discerning, shrewd” (1731). Meaning transferred to “pretty, fetching” by US students (slang) c. 1834. Meaning drifted further to describe the pleasing attraction to features usually possessed by the young.
In the late 19th/early 20th century, the meaning shifted, particularly in the US, to a somewhat more aesthetic one: “attractive, pretty, charming.” It first had the sense of smart in the sense we mean when we say that someone is “smartly dressed”: precisely, with good taste, or “just so.” Overtime these associations of ...
The English term “cute” derived from the term “acute” in the 18th century and refered to someone sharp-witted as well as clever and cunning (Oxford University Press, 2020c). In the beginning, cute in American English had a negative association and did not convey its modern meaning of sweetness and innocence.
cute adjective (ATTRACTIVE)
(especially of something or someone small or young) pleasant and attractive: His baby brother is really cute.
If you describe someone as cute, you think they are sexually attractive. [mainly US, informal]
We usually use cute to describe how something looks, like your cute smile or your cute dimples, but you can use it for anything that's endearing or pleasing, like the boy-gets-girl ending to a romantic comedy. Cute can also refer to something that's overly clever and a little bit fake.
HANDSOME. adjective: (of a man) good-looking.
What Does It Mean When A Girl Calls You Cute? Women are interesting, and you can't always work them out right away. What is this? When she calls you cute, it can mean a lot of things, such as she's friend-zoned you, she's attracted to you, or she thinks you've got child-like qualities.
Our brains make us enjoy looking at cute things by rewarding us with dopamine, a chemical that makes us feel intensely happy. The physical traits of babies are also features that we find cute when they show up on other things: baby animals, cartoon characters, even cars.
: attractive or pretty especially in a childish, youthful, or delicate way. a cute puppy. a cute smile. 3.
If you're just friends, then she could just mean it in a friendly way. But if you don't know each other that well and she's calling you cute, it's probably because she's interested.
awful (adj.)
The Old English word was egefull. The weakened sense of "very bad" is by 1809; the weakened sense of "excessively; very great" is by 1818. It formerly also was occasionally used in a sense of "profoundly reverential, full of awe" (1590s).
Cute aggression refers to an urge to squeeze, bite, or pinch something cute like a young animal or a human baby without any desire to cause them harm. In response to positive experiences, some people express their feelings in a dimorphous manner, meaning they show both positive and negative reactions.
It can be used to describe physical appearance, behavior, or personality traits. Generally, when someone is called cute, it means they seem appealing, adorable, or lovable. The term "cute" is often used to describe things that are small, fluffy, and have round features such as a baby animal or a child's toy.
Just because it's a word also used to describe puppies and children doesn't mean that it is debasing to call a woman or man cute. In this sense of the term, cute is attractive and alluring in its own way. Overall, it's a positive word.
Being a cute girl isn't just about what you look like, it's also about how you dress, how you act, and how you treat other people. You can be cute by being open and friendly with people, by being interested and curious in new things, and by dressing and behaving in certain ways.
Acute means 'sharp' the opposite being dull meaning 'blunt'.
Yes, some guys think that the girl who says that really means handsome, lovable, and sexy, but she wants to be demure about it so she just says “cute”. Basically, it's a word that means “I like you” to guys when a girl says it, so of course they like it.
No, it's NOT a bad thing, that a guy calls you cute. BASICALLY, he's testing the waters, and wanted to judge your reaction. In a round about way, HE'S telling you, he's interested in you.
Lots of people use “cute” as a normal, flirty compliment, but occasionally people say it in a way that's belittling and dismissive. If someone says it like that, they're trying to make you seem small, silly, and innocent, even though you're capable and strong.
"Cute" isn't a forbidden word, and some women even strive for a “cute look” or enjoy the compliment.
The Two Types of "Cute", Coming from the "Endearing" Definition (Along with a Tier List of Some "Total Drama" Girls) Cheerful - Someone is cute because of their more upbeat personality. Calm - Someone is cute because of their more gentle behavior.