hypocorism
UK /haɪˈpɒ.kəˌɹɪ.zəm/ · US /haɪˈpɑ.kəˌɹɪ.zəm/ noun
Forms hypocorisms hypocorisma
- noun (countable) A term of endearment, often a diminutive; a pet name.
- noun (uncountable) The formation of terms of endearment or pet names.
- noun (uncountable, rare) Baby talk, such as bow-wow for dog and choo-choo for train.
Synonyms
hypocoristic hypocoristicon nickname pet form pet name sobriquet
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin hypocorisma, a loan from Ancient Greek ὑποκόρισμα (hupokórisma), ὑποκορισμός (hupokorismós, “pet name”), from ὑποκορίζεσθαι (hupokorízesthai), ὑποκορίζομαι (hupokorízomai, “to use a pet name; to act in a childish manner”), from ῠ̔πο- (hŭpo-, prefix indicating a small degree) + κορίζομαι (korízomai, “to caress”) (from κόρος (kóros, “boy; youth”), κόρη (kórē, “girl; young woman”)).
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “hypocorism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details