/ˈpɾeto/, [ˈpɾe.t̪ʊ]
OrixeBack-formation from apretar (“tighten, push, squeeze, compress”). The semantic evolution to "dark" comes through the sense of "tight" or "thick". Another common, but less likely, etymology suggested is Vulgar Latin *prettus, from Latin pressus. Compare Portuguese preto, perto, Asturian prietu, Spanish prieto.
- near, nearby
“Et quando o diserõ a Calrros, volueuse a França et a grã presa enviou a todo los seus a longe et a preto que viesen a el.” — And when Charlemagne was told this, he returned to France and in great hurry he sent for all his, far and near, to come to him
- dark, swarthy, black
“Ali venden millo
Trigo è mais centeo
Fabas è castañas
Roupa è trapos vellos;
Tamen venden louza
De côr branco e prêto,
Hai tendas do chan
E tamen cubertos
Con cousas do uso
Todas a bon prezo” — There they sell corn
wheat and also rye
beans and chestnuts
clothes and old rags
also they sell dishware
of colour white and black,
there they sell on the ground
and also under cover
with handy things
Formaspreta(feminine) · pretos(masculine, plural) · pretas(feminine, plural)