hypocorism

== English == === Alternative forms === hypocorisma (UK) === 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”)). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /haɪˈpɒ.kəˌɹɪ.zəm/, /hɪ-/ (General American) IPA(key): /haɪˈpɑ.kəˌɹɪ.zəm/ Rhymes: -ɪzəm Hyphenation: hy‧po‧co‧rism === Noun === hypocorism (countable and uncountable, plural hypocorisms) (linguistics) (countable) A term of endearment, often a diminutive; a pet name. Synonyms: hypocoristic, hypocoristicon, nickname, pet form, pet name, sobriquet (uncountable) The formation of terms of endearment or pet names. (uncountable, rare) Baby talk, such as bow-wow for dog and choo-choo for train. ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === hypocorism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “hypocorism, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.