hypocoristic

1 of 2

adjective

hy·​po·​co·​ris·​tic ¦hī-pə-kə-¦ri-stik How to pronounce hypocoristic (audio)
¦hi-;
hī-¦pä-
hi-
variants or hypocoristical
¦hī-pə-kə-¦ri-sti-kəl How to pronounce hypocoristic (audio)
¦hi-;
hī-¦pä-
hi-
1
: of, relating to, or used as a pet name or form of baby talk
2
: forming a hypocoristic word
used of a suffix, abbreviation, or other modification
hypocoristically adverb

hypocoristic

2 of 2

noun

hy·​po·​co·​ris·​tic ¦hī-pə-kə-¦ri-stik How to pronounce hypocoristic (audio)
¦hi-;
hī-¦pä-
hi-
: a hypocoristic term

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Greek hypokoristikos diminutive, from (assumed) Greek hypokoristos (verbal of Greek hypokorizesthai) + Greek -ikos -ic

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Cite this Entry

“Hypocoristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocoristic. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.

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