Rechercher
diminutive
Example
The diminutive kitten curled up in the corner, its tiny frame emitting soft purrs.
She wore a diminutive pendant around her neck, a cherished keepsake from her grandmother.
The diminutive flower bloomed delicately in the garden, adding a touch of color to the landscape.
02
diminutif, diminutif affectif
(of a name, suffix, or grammatical form) indicating smallness or a lesser degree, often used to convey affection
Example
The diminutive form " duckling " uses the suffix " -ling " to denote a young or small duck.
In some languages, diminutive endings can change the tone of a noun to reflect endearment or triviality.
The diminutive suffix " -ette " in " kitchenette " implies a smaller or more compact version of a kitchen.
Diminutive
01
diminutif, diminutif affectueux
a word form or affix that is added to a base word to express smallness, endearment, or a sense of familiarity
What is a "diminutive"?
A diminutive is a word form that conveys a smaller size or a sense of affection or familiarity, often by adding a specific suffix to a base word. Diminutives can indicate not only physical size but also endearment or tenderness. For example, the word "dog" can become "doggy", and "book" can change to "booklet". These alterations often reflect a more casual or affectionate tone in communication. Diminutives are commonly used in various languages to express intimacy or warmth, allowing speakers to convey nuanced feelings towards people, animals, or objects.
Example
The word “ duckling ” is a diminutive of “ duck. ”
The suffix " -ette " in " kitchenette " is a diminutive that denotes a small kitchen area.
The term " bottlelet " employs a diminutive to describe a very small bottle.
word family
diminish
Verb
diminutive
Adjective
diminutiveness
Noun
