Nifty

When you hear the word nifty, does the word magnificent come to mind? Maybe. Usually though when we speak of something being nifty we mean some everyday thing that is handy or useful, something that is cleverly devised or attractive.
 
The word nifty has an unknown origin; perhaps from theatrical slang. Nifty, meaning stylish or good-looking, is first seen in an 1868 poem by the American poet Bret Harte (1836 – 1902) “who said it was a shortened, altered form of Magnificat” (Online Etymological Dictionary).
 
The word Magnificat has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root meg (great) and Latin magnus (great) + facere (to make, to do) = magnificare (to make something great or magnificent). The word Magnificat came to English around 1200 from the Latin name for New Testament hymn said to be created by Mary, mother of Jesus.
 
Image: The Nifty Theatre, Waterville, Washington. The US National Register of Historic Places.
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nifty_Theatre