diminutive
/dɪˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/ · adj
Meaning
- Very small.
- Serving to diminish.
- Of or pertaining to, or creating a word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.
- A word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.
- The smallest, thinnest version of a traditional heraldic ordinary ("geometric shape on a shield"), often used to represent multiple instances of a charge or to modify a main, central, and larger charge; not itself modifiable.
Etymology / origin
Inherited from Middle English diminutif, derived from Old French diminutif, derived from Latin dīminutīv|us, ~a, ~um (adjective), from dīminūt|us, ~a, ~um (participle), perfect passive participle of dīmin|uō, ~uere, ~uī, ~ūtum (verb). First attested in 1398.
- dīminutīvus(la)→
- dīminutīvus(la)→
- diminutif(fro)→
- diminutif(fro)→
- diminutif(enm)→
- diminutif(enm)→
- diminutive (English)
- Relations: inh, inh, der, der, der, der
Related words
Descendant words
- deminutiivi(Finnish) (cog)
- diminutiivi(Finnish) (cog)
Sources
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