hypocoristic

American  

[hahy-puh-kuh-ris-tik, hip-uh-] / ˌhaɪ pə kəˈrɪs tɪk, ˌhɪp ə- /

adjective

1. endearing, as a pet name, diminutive, or euphemism.

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Other Word Forms

• hypocoristically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of hypocoristic

First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek hypokoristikós “diminutive,” equivalent to hypokor(ízesthai) “to play the child, call by endearing names” ( hypo- “under” + kor- “child”; compare kórē “girl,” kóros “boy”) + -istikos adjective suffix; see hypo-, -istic

Example Sentences

Hence we get names for the two kinds of diminutives; viz., the term meiotic for the true diminutives, and the term hypocoristic for the diminutives of endearment.

From A Handbook of the English Language by Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)