[hahy-pok-uh-riz-uh
m, hi-] 
| 1. | a pet name. |
| 2. | the practice of using a pet name. |
| 3. | the use of forms of speech imitative of baby talk, esp. by an adult. |
| hy·poc·o·rism (hī-pŏk'ə-rĭz'əm, hī'pə-kôr'ĭz'əm, -kōr'-) n.
[Late Latin hypocorisma, from Greek hupokorisma, from hupokorizesthai, to call by endearing names : hypo-, beneath, secretly; see hypo- + korizesthai, to caress (from koros, boy or korē, girl; see ker-2 in Indo-European roots).] hy'po·co·ris'tic (hī'pə-kə-rĭs'tĭk) adj. & n., hy'po·co·ris'ti·cal·ly adv. |