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Webster 1913 Edition

Diminutive

Di-min′u-tive

,
Adj.
[Cf. L.
deminutivus
, F.
diminutif
.]
1.
Below the average size; very small; little.
2.
Expressing diminution;
as, a
diminutive
word
.
3.
Tending to diminish.
[R.]
Diminutive
of liberty.
Shaftesbury.

Di-min′u-tive

,
Noun.
1.
Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing.
Such water flies,
diminutives
of nature.
Shakespeare
2.
(Gram.)
A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of the same kind with that denoted by the primitive;
as,
gosling
,
eaglet
,
lambkin
.
Babyisms and dear
diminutives
.
Tennyson.
☞ The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a diminutive or petty form of the action, as scribble.

Webster 1828 Edition

Diminutive

DIMINUTIVE

,
Adj.
Small; little; narrow; contracted; as a diminutive race of men or other animals; a diminutive thought.

DIMINUTIVE

,
Noun.
In grammar, a word formed from another word, usually an appellative or generic term, to express a little thing of the kind; as, in Latin, lapillus, a little stone, from lapis; cellula, a little cell, from cella, a cell; in French, maisonnette, a little house, from maison, a house; in English, manikin, a little man, from man.

Definition 2024

diminutive

diminutive

English

Alternative forms

  • (abbreviation, noun, grammar): dim.

Adjective

diminutive ‎(comparative more diminutive, superlative most diminutive)

  1. Very small.
    • 2011 October 20, Jamie Lillywhite, “Tottenham 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan”, in BBC Sport:
      Roman Sharonov rose unchallenged to head a corner wide, while diminutive winger Gokdeniz Karadeniz ghosted in with a diving header from the edge of the six-yard box that was acrobatically kept out by Gomes.
  2. Serving to diminish.
    • Shaftesbury
      diminutive of liberty
  3. (grammar) Of or pertaining to, or creating a word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

diminutive ‎(plural diminutives)

  1. (grammar) A word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.
    Booklet, the diminutive of book, means ‘small book’.
    • 1916, Ernest Weekley, Surnames (page 287)
      When we come to occupative names, we are again confronted by crowds of diminutives.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

External links

Related terms

Danish

Adjective

diminutive

  1. definite of diminutiv
  2. plural of diminutiv

French

Adjective

diminutive

  1. feminine singular of diminutif

Italian

Adjective

diminutive

  1. feminine plural of diminutivo

Etymology

From Middle French diminutif (1398), from Latin diminutivum, from deminuere ‎(“diminish”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /dɪˈmɪn.jʊ.tɪv/, /dəˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/

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