diminutive
Use Diminutive in a sentence
yə adjective
1.
small; little; tiny: a diminutive building for a model-train layout.
2.
Grammar. pertaining to or productive of a form denoting smallness, familiarity, affection, or triviality, as the suffix -let, in droplet from drop.
noun
3.
a small thing or person.
4.
Grammar. a diminutive element or formation.
5.
Heraldry. a charge, as an ordinary, smaller in length or breadth than the usual.
00:10
Diminutive
is always a great word to know.
So is lozenge. Does it mean:
| diamond |
| a symbol (∼) indicating equivalency or similarity between two values. |
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin dīminūtīvus, equivalent to Latin dīminūt(us) lessened (for dēminūtus; see diminution) + -īvus -ive
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin dīminūtīvus, equivalent to Latin dīminūt(us) lessened (for dēminūtus; see diminution) + -īvus -ive
Related forms
di·min·u·tive·ly, adverb
di·min·u·tive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To diminutive
Collins
World English Dictionary
diminutive (dɪˈmɪnjʊtɪv) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | very small; tiny |
| 2. | grammar |
| a. denoting an affix added to a word to convey the meaning small or unimportant or to express affection, as for example the suffix -ette in French | |
| b. denoting a word formed by the addition of a diminutive affix | |
| —n | |
| 3. | grammar a diminutive word or affix |
| 4. | a tiny person or thing |
| diminutival | |
| —adj | |
| di'minutively | |
| —adv | |
| di'minutiveness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
diminutive
late 14c., from O.Fr. diminutif (fem. diminutive), from L. diminutivum, from deminuere (see diminish).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
That cute diminutive nickname you're thinking about is a cute diminutive nickname, not a real name.
High performance and reduced form factor mean that there is only so much juice that they can fit into the diminutive hardware.
Now, however, this diminutive building - hardly more than a shed - has been made anew inside and out.
But what is noticeable about Homo floresiensis is how small the brain is, even in comparison to the diminutive body.
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