diminutive etymology

Etymology:

  • "Diminutive" comes from the Latin word "diminuere," which means "to lessen" or "to make smaller."

Meaning:

  • Adjective: very small in size, amount, or importance
  • Noun: a word that expresses a smaller or less significant form of something

Origin:

  • The word "diminutive" first appeared in English in the 14th century. It was used to describe objects or people that were small or insignificant. The word has since evolved to encompass a wider range of meanings, including both physical and conceptual smallness.

Examples:

  • The kitten was a diminutive creature, weighing only a few ounces.
  • Her apartment was a diminutive space, but it was cozy and comfortable.
  • The politician's apology was a diminutive gesture that failed to appease his critics.

Synonyms:

  • Tiny
  • Small
  • Insignificant
  • Trivial

Antonyms:

  • Large
  • Grand
  • Important
  • Significant

diminutive relate terms

  • administer

    Etymology Latin administrare From ad toward ministrare to serve Meaning

  • administration

    Etymology Latin administratio From Latin ad to ministrare to serve Meani

  • comminute

    Etymology Late Latin comminūtus broken into pieces past participle of comminuere to

  • diminish

    Etymology Old French demenische Medieval Latin deminuo Latin deminuere de remove

  • meiosis

    Etymology The word meiosis comes from the Greek word μείωσις meiosis which m

  • Menshevik

    Etymology The term Menshevik is derived from the Russian word меньшевик me

  • menu

    Etymology The word menu comes from the French word menu meaning small It is deriv

  • metier

    Etymology French métier Latin ministerium service Meaning A trade or occupa

  • mince

    Etymology Old French amincier mencier Ultimately from Latin minuere meaning to dimin

  • minestrone

    Etymology The word minestrone comes from the Italian word minestra meaning soup

  • minim

    Etymology The word minim is derived from the Latin word minimus meaning smallest

  • minimum

    Etymology 16th century from Latin minimus superlative of minor smaller Mea

  • minister

    Etymology The word minister is derived from the Latin word minister which means at

  • ministration

    Etymology Latin ministerium from minister servant Meaning 1 The act of administeri

  • ministry

    Etymology The word ministry comes from the Latin word ministerium which means serv

  • minor

    Etymology The word minor originates from the comparative form of the Latin adjective

  • minuend

    Etymology Latin minuendus Meaning A minuend is a number from which another number

  • minuet

    Etymology The word minuet derives from the French word menuet which in turn is like

  • minus

    Etymology The word minus comes from the Latin word minuere which means to make less

  • minuscule

    Etymology The word minuscule derives from the Latin word minusculus which means ver

  • minute

    Etymology The word minute has its roots in the Latin word minutus meaning small o

  • minutia

    Etymology The word minutia originates from Latin and has the following etymology Mi

  • Miocene

    Etymology The name Miocene comes from the Greek words meion meaning less and ka

  • mite

    Etymology The word mite comes from the Old English word mite which in turn is deriv

  • mystery

    Etymology The word mystery comes from the Late Latin word mysterium which in turn co

  • nimiety

    Etymology The word nimiety originates from the Latin word nimietas which means exce

  • bantam

    Etymology The word bantam is derived from the name of the Indonesian city of Bantam n

  • mesel

    Etymology The word mesel has roots in two separate languages Hebrew mashal mean

  • napkin

    Etymology Middle English napkyn Old French nape Late Latin nappa cloth used for wi

  • parakeet

    Etymology Late 17th century from parrakeet via Portuguese periquito Spanish periqu

  • tuffet

    Etymology The word tuffet is derived from the Middle English word tuffet meaning a

  • tablet

    Etymology and Origin of Tablet The word tablet has its origins in ancient times and

  • aglet

    Etymology Aglet is derived from Medieval Latin aguleta meaning lace tag It is b

  • word

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their development through history It in

  • masquerade

    Etymology The word masquerade derives from the Spanish term mascarada which emerged

  • dragon

    Etymology The word dragon derives from the Greek word drakōn which means serpent