hypocorism
[ hahy-pok-uh-riz-uh m, hi- ]
/ haɪˈpɒk əˌrɪz əm, hɪ- /
noun
a pet name.
the practice of using a pet name.
the use of forms of speech imitative of baby talk, especially by an adult.
Words nearby hypocorism
Origin of hypocorism
First recorded in 1840–50, hypocorism is from the Greek word hypokórisma pet name. See hypocoristic, -ism
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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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