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diminutive

Pronunciation: /dɪˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/

The English word “diminutive” has 5 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Very small.
  2. Serving to diminish.
  3. Of or pertaining to, or creating a word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.

noun

  1. A word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.
  2. 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

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.

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