browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about diminutive
diminutive |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Diminutive \Di*min"u*tive\, a. [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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Diminutive \Di*min"u*tive\, n. 1. Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing Such water flies, diminutives of nature. --Shak. 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. Note: The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a diminutive or petty form of the action as scribble. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: diminutive adj : very small "diminutive in stature"; "a lilliputian chest of drawers"; "her petite figure"; "tiny feet" [syn: {bantam}, {lilliputian}, {midget}, {petite}, {tiny}] n : a word that is formed with a suffix (such as -let or -kin) to indicate smallness
more about diminutive