hypocorism
[ hahy-pok-uh-riz-uhm, hi- ]
/ haɪˈpɒk əˌrɪz əm, hɪ- /
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noun
the practice of using a pet name.
the use of forms of speech imitative of baby talk, especially by an adult.
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Origin of hypocorism
First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek hypokórisma “pet name, endearing name; diminutive (word)”; see origin at hypocoristic, -ism
Words nearby hypocorism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for hypocorism
hypocorism
/ (haɪˈpɒkəˌrɪzəm) /
noun
a pet name, esp one using a diminutive affix`` Sally '' is a hypocorism for `` Sarah ''
another word for euphemism (def. 1)
Derived forms of hypocorism
hypocoristic (ˌhaɪpəkɔːˈrɪstɪk), adjectivehypocoristically, adverbWord Origin for hypocorism
C19: from Greek hupokorisma, from hupokorizesthai to use pet names, from hypo- beneath + korizesthai, from korē girl, koros boy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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