Diminutive
/dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
Definitions
2 meaningsExtremely or unusually small; tiny.
/dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
Extremely or unusually small.
She had a diminutive figure, barely reaching five feet.
💡 Simply: Imagine a tiny version of something. Like, really, really small! Diminutive things are just that – small and cute.
👶 For kids: Something super, super small, like a tiny toy!
More Examples
The jewelry store displayed a collection of diminutive charms.
The artist's diminutive paintings captured intricate details.
How It's Used
"The artist specialized in creating diminutive sculptures."
"A diminutive species of frog was discovered in the rainforest."
A word or suffix expressing smallness or familiarity. Often used in languages to create a smaller, more endearing version of a word.
/dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
A word or suffix that indicates smallness or familiarity.
In Spanish, the suffix '-ito' is a common diminutive, as in 'gatito' (little cat).
💡 Simply: In language, a diminutive is when you change a word a little to show that something is small or cute. Like 'doggie' for a small dog.
👶 For kids: A special word that means something is small and cute.
More Examples
The teacher explained the role of diminutives in forming new words.
Many languages utilize diminutive forms to express endearment.
How It's Used
"In many languages, adding a diminutive suffix changes the meaning of a word to make it smaller or more endearing."
From Latin *dīminutīvus*, from *dīminuere* 'to diminish'. It first appeared in English in the late 14th century.
Diminutive, both as an adjective and a noun, has been used across a wide range of literature, especially in descriptions of characters and objects or in grammatical analyses.
Memory tip
Think of mini-me! Diminutive things are like mini versions.