Lexic.us

Definition of Diminutive

1. Noun. A word that is formed with a suffix (such as -let or -kin) to indicate smallness.

2. Adjective. Very small. "The flyspeck nation of Bahrain moved toward democracy"

Definition of Diminutive

1. a. Below the average size; very small; little.

2. n. Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing.

Definition of Diminutive

1. Adjective. Very small. ¹

2. Adjective. Serving to diminish. ¹

3. Adjective. (grammar) Of or pertaining to, or creating a word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment. ¹

4. Noun. (grammar) A word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Diminutive

1. [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Diminutive

diminishes diminishing diminishing returns diminishingly diminishings diminishment diminishments diminisht diminuendo diminuendos

diminuitive diminutal diminution diminutions diminutival diminutive (current term) diminutively diminutiveness diminutives diminutivisation

diminutivise diminutivization diminutivize dimiracetam dimish dimission dimissions dimissory dimit dimities

Literary usage of Diminutive

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Grammar of the German Language: Designed for a Thoro and Practical Study by George Oliver Curme (1922)
"In Mecklenburg and Hither Pomerania -ing (see 7 above) is used as a diminutive, especially, however, as a sign of endearment. Note 1. ..."

2. The Montessori method: Scientific Pedagogy as Applied to Child Education in by Maria Montessori, Henry Wyman Holmes (1912)
"Another work in the School of Educative Art is the manufacture of diminutive bricks, and their baking in the furnace, and the construction of diminutive ..."

3. A Grammar of the Persian Language by William Jones (1828)
"But if a long syllable do not precede, the diminutive is formed by changing ... <0j , tji , and l , are terminations of the diminutive noun ; but they occur ..."

4. A Konkani Grammar by Angelus Francis Xavier Maffei (1882)
"These have sometimes a proper word; yet mostly the quasi-diminutive -so must he added to them (see ..."

5. The Reptile Book: A Comprehensive, Popularised Work on the Structure and by Raymond Lee Ditmars (1907)
"The North American species are diminutive, with rather cylindrical body and very short limbs. On the back and sides the scales are fine and granular; ..."

6. The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal by Stephen Denison Peet (1898)
"MINIATURES, OR diminutive RELICS. BY OE LAIDLAW. ... That these diminutive axes had some especial use for the finer classes of work, such as removing the ..."

7. Publications by Oriental Translation Fund (1843)
"It is to be noted, that Vd-mana means a dwarf, as he was a diminutive Brahman. 1 Vamana was so small, that in his journey, when he got to the side of a hole ..."

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