diminutive
/dɪˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.09 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Very small.
adj
Of or pertaining to, or creating a word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.
noun
A word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.
Example Sentences
- "Mrs. Washington ("Oh, la, call me Martha, Boys") is a diminutive woman with a cheerful rather than happy air, who seems to bustle even when standing still.."
- "Roman Sharonov rose unchallenged to head a corner wide, while diminutive winger Gokdeniz Karadeniz ghosted in with a diving header from the edge of the six-yard box that was acrobatically kept out by Gomes."
- "1711, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times, 1714 edition republished by Gregg International Publishers, 1968, Volume 3, Miscellany 3, Chapter 2, p. 175, They cou’d, perhaps, even embrace POVERTY contentedly, rather than submit to any thing diminutive either of their inward Freedom or national Liberty."
- "Booklet, the diminutive of book, means ‘small book’."
- "But I was frightfully fond of the universe and wanted to address it by a diminutive. I often did so; and it never seemed to mind."
- "When we come to occupative names, we are again confronted by crowds of diminutives."
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English diminutif, derived from Old French diminutif, derived from Latin dīminutīv|us, ~a, ~um (adjective), from dīminūt|us, ~a, ~um (participle), perfect passive participle of dīmin|uō, ~uere, ~uī, ~ūtum (verb). First attested in 1398.
Origin
- Source language: Middle English
- First known use: First attested in 1398
Word Breakdown
- Root: diminutif, dīminutīvus
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɪˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/
- British English: /dɪˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/
Usage
Inflected Forms
more diminutive (comparative)
most diminutive (superlative)
dim. (alternative, abbreviation)
diminutives (plural)