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diminutive

[ dih-min-yuh-tiv ]
/ dÉȘˈmÉȘn yə tÉȘv /
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See synonyms for: diminutive / diminutives / diminutiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
small; little; tiny: a diminutive building for a model-train layout.
Grammar. pertaining to or productive of a form denoting smallness, familiarity, affection, or triviality, as the suffix -let, in droplet from drop.
noun
a small thing or person.
Grammar. a diminutive element or formation.
Heraldry. a charge, as an ordinary, smaller in length or breadth than the usual.
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Origin of diminutive

First recorded before 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin dÄ«minĆ«tÄ«vus, equivalent to Latin dÄ«minĆ«t(us) “lessened” (for dēminĆ«tus ) + -Ä«vus adjective suffix; see diminution,-ive

synonym study for diminutive

1. See little.

OTHER WORDS FROM diminutive

di·min·u·tive·ly, adverbdi·min·u·tive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use diminutive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for diminutive

diminutive
/ (dÉȘˈmÉȘnjʊtÉȘv) /

adjective
very small; tiny
grammar
  1. denoting an affix added to a word to convey the meaning small or unimportant or to express affection, as for example the suffix -ette in French
  2. denoting a word formed by the addition of a diminutive affix
noun
grammar a diminutive word or affix
a tiny person or thing
Compare (for senses 2, 3): augmentative

Derived forms of diminutive

diminutival (dÉȘˌmÉȘnjʊˈtaÉȘvəl), adjectivediminutively, adverbdiminutiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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