a diminutive form

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• first name / diminutive form —    When speakers have agreed to use one another’s first names, there can still remain the question of which form of the name is to be used. ‘I wish to God you wouldn’t call me Wilson,’ says Edward Wilson to Louise Scobie in The Heart of the… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

• Diminutive — In language structure, a diminutive,[1] or diminutive form (abbreviated dim), is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object or quality named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment.[2][3] It… …   Wikipedia

• form — [13] Form comes via Old French forme from Latin forma ‘shape, contour’, a word whose origins have never been satisfactorily explained. Its semantic similarity to Greek morphé ‘form, shape’ (source of English morphology [19]) is striking, and has… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

• form — [13] Form comes via Old French forme from Latin forma ‘shape, contour’, a word whose origins have never been satisfactorily explained. Its semantic similarity to Greek morphé ‘form, shape’ (source of English morphology [19]) is striking, and has… …   Word origins

• Diminutive — Di*min u*tive, n. 1. Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing. [1913 Webster] Such water flies, diminutives of nature. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. (Gram.) A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of the same… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• diminutive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) extremely or unusually small. 2) (of a word, name, or suffix) implying smallness (e.g. let in booklet). ► NOUN ▪ a shortened form of a name, typically used informally. DERIVATIVES diminutively adverb diminutiveness noun …   English terms dictionary

• form — I n. printed document 1) to fill in (BE), fill out (esp. AE), fill up (obsol. BE) a form 2) an application; tax form shape manner 3) to assume, take (on) a form (to assume human form) 4) an abridged, condensed; comprehensive; concise; convenient …   Combinatory dictionary

• diminutive — [[t]dɪmɪ̱njʊtɪv[/t]] diminutives 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n A diminutive person or object is very small. Her eyes scanned the room until they came to rest on a diminutive figure standing at the entrance. Syn: tiny 2) N COUNT A diminutive is an… …   English dictionary

• diminutive — /dəˈmɪnjətɪv / (say duh minyuhtiv) adjective 1. small; little; tiny: *he tore little strips of paper and made diminutive notes upon them. –peter carey, 1988. 2. Grammar relating to or productive of a form denoting smallness, familiarity,… …  

• diminutive — diminutively, adv. diminutiveness, n. /di min yeuh tiv/, adj. 1. small; little; tiny: a diminutive building for a model train layout. 2. Gram. pertaining to or productive of a form denoting smallness, familiarity, affection, or triviality, as the …   Universalium

• diminutive — 1. adjective /dɪˈmɪn.jʊ.tɪv,dəˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/ a) Very small. b) Serving to diminish. Syn: lilliputian, tiny Ant: huge, gigantic …   Wiktionary