diminutive

views updated

di·min·u·tive / diˈminyətiv/ • adj. extremely or unusually small: a diminutive figure dressed in black. ∎  (of a word, name, or suffix) implying smallness, either actual or imputed in token of affection, scorn, etc., (e.g., teeny, -let, -kins).• n. a smaller or shorter thing, in particular: ∎  a diminutive word or suffix. ∎  a shortened form of a name, typically used informally: “Nick” is a diminutive of “Nicholas.” ∎  Heraldry a charge of the same form as an ordinary but of lesser size or width.DERIVATIVES: di·min·u·tive·ly adv.di·min·u·tive·ness n.

More From encyclopedia.com