hypocorism

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

noun

1. pet name.
2. the practice of using a pet name.
3. the use of forms of speech imitative of baby talk, especially by an adult.

hypocorism

/ haɪˈpɒkəˌrɪzəm; ˌhaɪpəkɔːˈrɪstɪk /

noun

1. a pet name, esp one using a diminutive affix

   ``Sally'' is a hypocorism for ``Sarah''

2. another word for euphemism

Derived Forms

• hypocoristic, adjective
• ˌhypocoˈristically, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypocorism¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek hypokórisma “pet name, endearing name; diminutive (word)”; hypocoristic, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypocorism¹

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