An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/niedlich

by Friedrich Kluge

niedlich, adjective, ‘pleasant, pretty, nice,’ from Middle High German *nietich, of which only the adverb nietlîche, ‘zealously, diligently,’ is recorded; late Old High German nietsam, ‘desiderabilis, desirable, pleasant’; compare Old Saxon niudsam, ‘pleasant.’ The cognates are connected with Old High German niot, masculine, ‘lively longing, zealous endeavour,’ Old Saxon niud, Anglo-Saxon neód, ‘zeal, longing.’