View synonyms for hypocoristic

hypocoristic

[ hahy-puh-kuh-ris-tik, hip-uh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

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

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Other Words From

hypo·co·risti·cal·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of hypocoristic¹

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; hypo-, -istic

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Example Sentences

The Greek language has the word hypocorisma, meaning a term of endearment, and the adjective hypocoristic.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, clean-ness, or neat-ness, is one of the elements that make hypocoristic terms (or terms of endearment) applicable.

From Project Gutenberg

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hypocorism hypocotyl

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