hypocoristic

[ hahy-puh-kuh-ris-tik, hip-uh- ]

adjective

1. endearing, as a pet name, diminutive, or euphemism.

Other Words From

• hypo·co·risti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypocoristic¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek hypokoristikós “diminutive,” equivalent to hypokor(ízesthai) “to play the child, call by endearing names” ( hypo- “under” + kor- “child”; compare kórē “girl,” kóros “boy”) + -istikos adjective suffix; hypo-, -istic

Example Sentences

Hence we get names for the two kinds of diminutives; viz., the term meiotic for the true diminutives, and the term hypocoristic for the diminutives of endearment.

From Project Gutenberg