hypocorism

[ hahy-pok-uh-riz-uhm, hi- ]

noun

pet name.
the practice of using a pet name.

the use of forms of speech imitative of baby talk, especially by an adult.

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

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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)

Origin of hypocorism

C19: from Greek hupokorisma, from hupokorizesthai to use pet names, from hypo- beneath + korizesthai, from korē girl, koros boy

Derived forms of hypocorism

hypocoristic (ˌhaɪpəkɔːˈrɪstɪk), adjective
hypocoristically, adverb

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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