diminutive

CEFRC1

/dɪˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Very small in size or physical appearance.

  2. 02

    noun

    A word form showing that something is small or familiar.

Examples

  • There could be many uses for such a diminutive flying vehicle.

  • Twig in beak, the diminutive bird pranced atop the thick branch.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
3

Also pronounced

  • /dɪˈmɪn.ju.ə.tɪv/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Of or pertaining to, or creating a word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.

  2. Serving to diminish.

  3. Very small.

More examples

In context

  • Booklet, the diminutive of book, means ‘small book’.

  • 1711, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times, 1714 edition republished by Gregg International Publishers, 1968, Volume 3, Miscellany 3, Chapter 2, p. 175, They cou’d, perhaps, even embrace POVERTY con...

  • Mrs. Washington ("Oh, la, call me Martha, Boys") is a diminutive woman with a cheerful rather than happy air, who seems to bustle even when standing still..

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank puppy could fit easily inside a teacup.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

Inherited from Middle English diminutif, derived from Old French diminutif, derived from Latin dīminutīv|us, ~a, ~um (adjective), from dīminūt|us, ~a, ~um (participle), perfect passive participle of dīmin|uō, ~uere, ~uī, ~ūtum (verb). First attested in 1398.