hypocoristic

From Ancient Greek ὑποκοριστικός (hupokoristikós), from ὑποκορίζομαι (hupokorízomai, “I speak in the language of children”), from ὑπό (hupó, “below”) + κορίζομαι (korízomai, “I act like a girl”), from κόρη (kórē, “girl”).

• IPA^(key): /ˌhaɪpəkəˈɹɪstɪk/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪstɪk

hypocoristic (comparative more hypocoristic, superlative most hypocoristic)

1. Relating to a nickname, usually indicating intimacy with the person.

   English surnames which end in -oe usually began as nicknames, since -oe is a Middle English hypocoristic suffix.

2. Relating to baby talk.

hypocoristic (plural hypocoristics)

1. A nickname, especially one indicating intimacy and formed through a shortening of the original name.

• endearing, term of endearment
• Category:English endearing terms
• Category:English childish terms

• “hypocoristic”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “hypocoristic”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “hypocoristic”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.