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hypocorism

[hahy-pok-uh-riz-uh m, hi-]
noun
  1. a 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.

Origin of hypocorism

First recorded in 1840–50, hypocorism is from the Greek word hypokórisma pet name. See hypocoristic, -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for hypocorism

hypocorism

noun
  1. a pet name, esp one using a diminutive affix`` Sally '' is a hypocorism for `` Sarah ''
  2. another word for euphemism (def. 1)
Derived Formshypocoristic (ˌhaɪpəkɔːˈrɪstɪk), adjectivehypocoristically, adverb

Word 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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012