Diminutive meaning

What is an example of a diminutive?

Diminutive means small. A diminutive person is short and small. A diminutive word is a "cute" version of a word or name: for example, "duckling" is a diminutive of "duck" and Billy is a diminutive form of the name William.

What is the meaning of diminutive?

Just as diminish means "to grow smaller", diminutive means "very small". When writing about language, diminutive as both an adjective and a noun refers to particular endings and the words made with them to indicate smallness.

Is the word diminutive offensive?

In some contexts, diminutives are also employed in a pejorative sense to denote that someone or something is weak or childish.

What does diminutive mean in a sentence?

very small: He's a diminutive figure, less than five feet tall.

What is a diminutive in Russian?

Russian nicknames, or diminutives, are simply short forms of the given name. As opposed to full names used in formal situations, short forms of a name are used in communication between well-acquainted people, usually relatives, friends, and colleagues.

What are diminutive Russian words?

Diminutives are Vadik, Vadya, and (less commonly) Dima. Note that while the stress in "Vadim" is on the second syllable, it is on the first one in all diminutives.

What is the opposite of diminutive?

diminutive (comparative more diminutive, superlative most diminutive) Very small. quotations ▼synonyms, antonyms ▲ Synonyms: lilliputian, tiny Antonyms: huge, gigantic.

What is the best synonym for diminutive?

Some common synonyms of diminutive are little, miniature, minute, small, and tiny.

Why do people use diminutives?

Diminutives are often used for affection. In many languages the meaning of diminution can be translated “tiny” or “wee” and diminutives are used frequently when speaking to small children; adult people sometimes use diminutives when they express extreme tenderness and intimacy by behaving and talking like children.

Does English have diminutives?

Diminutives do exist in English but there is also a wide range of other modifying words, which are commonly used particularly with adjectives and adverbs to reduce their impact. Words such as: fairly. quite.

What is the diminutive of dog?

A doggy can be a small dog or a baby dog. Or, it can be a loving term for a dog of any size. In English, adding the letter -y to the end of some words can suggest the things they describe are small or well-loved. We call this the diminutive.

What is the diminutive of cat?

Origin of Kitten

From Middle English kiton, kitoun, kyton (“kitten”), diminutive of cat (“cat”).

What is the diminutive of teeth?

A diminutive tooth; a denticle.

What are diminutive names?

A diminutive (or pet name) of a given name is a short and/or affectionate form. Often they are only used by friends and relatives.

What is the diminutive of dog?

What are diminutive nouns?

noun. /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/ /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/ a word or an ending of a word that shows that somebody/something is small, for example piglet (= a young pig), kitchenette (= a small kitchen)

What is a another word for diminutive?

Some common synonyms of diminutive are little, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

What is the Russian diminutive for Vladimir?

In Russian, shortened and endeared versions of the name are Volodya (and variants with diminutive suffixes: Volod'ka, Volodyen'ka, etc.), Vova (and diminutives: Vovka, Vovochka, etc.), Vovchik, Vovan.

What is the opposite of diminutive?

diminutive (comparative more diminutive, superlative most diminutive) Very small. quotations ▼synonyms, antonyms ▲ Synonyms: lilliputian, tiny Antonyms: huge, gigantic.

Is Nancy a diminutive?

The name Nancy was originally a diminutive form of Anne or Ann. It began to be used as a proper name from the 18th century onwards. Similar names include Nan, Nance, Nanette, and Nannie.