diminutive

Everyday

1. Very small or short. tree →
2. (grammar, noun) A form of a word or name that means small or shows affection, such as «duckling», «piglet», «booklet», or «Billy» for William. tree →

In the lessons

In stories a «diminutive figure» is a small person or creature. In English lessons, diminutive endings include -let, -ling, -ette, -ie/-y: piglet, gosling, kitchenette, doggie. Nicknames like «Kate» for Katherine and «Mick» for Michael are diminutives. Phrases: «diminutive figure», «diminutive form», «diminutive of».

Examples

• The diminutive girl was the fastest runner in the school. tree →
• «Piglet» is the diminutive of «pig». tree →
• «Jimmy» is a diminutive of «James». tree →
• A diminutive old man opened the door. tree →
• The suffix -let, as in «booklet», makes a diminutive. tree →
• Despite her diminutive size, the terrier was very brave. tree →

Note

Formal or literary for «tiny». Pronounced «di-MIN-yoo-tiv». Not all words ending in -let or -ling are diminutives (e.g. «toilet», «sibling» are not small things).