Webster's English Dictionary

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diminutive

Cross references:
  1. small                 
 
1. di.min.u.tive \d*-'min-y*t-iv\ n [ME diminutif, fr. ML diminutivum, 
   alter. of LL deminutivum,]fr. neut. of deminutivus 1: a diminutive word, 
   affix, or name  2: a diminutive individual 
2. diminutive aj 1: indicating small size and sometimes the state or 
   quality of being famil iarly known, lovable, pitiable, or contemptible - 
   used of affixes (as -ette, -kin, -ling) and of words formed with them (as 
   kitchenette, ladykin, witling) 2: extremely small : TINY  - 
   di.min.u.tive.ly av