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hypocoristic

 - 2 dictionary results

hy⋅po⋅co⋅ris⋅tic

  [hahy-puh-kuh-ris-tik, hip-uh-]
Use hypocoristic in a Sentence
–adjective
endearing, as a pet name, diminutive, or euphemism.
Origin:
1600–10; < Gk hypokoristikós diminutive, equiv. to hypokor(ízesthai) to play the child, call by endearing names (hypo- hypo- + kor- child (Compare kórē girl, kóros boy)) + -istikos -istic

Related forms:
hy⋅po⋅co⋅ris⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hypocoristic
hy·poc·o·rism   (hī-pŏk'ə-rĭz'əm, hī'pə-kôr'ĭz'əm, -kōr'-)   
n.  

  1. A name of endearment; a pet name.

  2. The use of such names.


[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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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