What does it mean when someone is diminutive?
short and 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.
How do you use the word diminutive?
Diminutive in a Sentence 🔉
- Surrounded by tall skyscrapers, the three-story apartment building looked diminutive.
- My mother was a diminutive woman who still purchased clothes from the girls’ department.
- Despite its size, the diminutive robot was able to lift over three hundred pounds.
What is a diminutive spirit?
Diminutive spirit. A gnome /noÊŠm/ is a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature.
What is a diminutive in linguistics?
A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. In many languages, formation of diminutives by adding suffixes is a productive part of the language.
What is the diminutive for owl?
Owlet
Frequency: A small or young owl. Any young or small owl.
Are nicknames diminutives?
Diminutives are often employed as nicknames and pet names when speaking to small children and when expressing extreme tenderness and intimacy to an adult. The opposite of the diminutive form is the augmentative. In many languages, formation of diminutives by adding suffixes is a productive part of the language.
What is the adjective form of diminutive?
Derived forms of diminutive diminutival (dɪˌmɪnjʊˈtaɪvəl), adjectivediminutively, adverbdiminutiveness, noun.
What is a sentence with the word diminutive in it?
1. She has diminutive hands for an adult. 2. He’s a diminutive figure, less than five feet tall.
Does English have a diminutive?
English. English has a great variety of historical diminutives adopted from other languages but many of these are lexicalized. Productive diminutives are infrequent to nonexistent in Standard English in comparison with many other languages.
What does the name diminutive mean?
Definition of diminutive. (Entry 1 of 2) 1 grammar : a word, affix, or name usually indicating small size : a diminutive (see diminutive entry 2 sense 1) word, affix, or name. 2 : one that is notably small : a diminutive individual. diminutive.
What does the name diminitive mean?
The definition of diminutive is small or tiny. An example of diminutive is the size of Santa’s elves. Extremely or extraordinarily small. A diminutive suffix, word, or name.
What does diminutives mean?
Diminutives are often used for the purpose of expressing 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…
What is another word for diminutive?
“diminutive in stature”; “a lilliputian chest of drawers”; “her petite figure”; “tiny feet”; “the flyspeck nation of Bahrain moved toward democracy”. Synonyms: fiddling, midget, tiny, trivial, flyspeck, picayune, piffling, petty, footling, petite, bantam, lilliputian, little, piddling, niggling. Antonyms: large, big.