hypocoristic adjective & noun. [,hʌɪpǝ(ʊ)kǝ'rɪstɪk] Also hypochoristic. M18.
[Greek hupokoristikos, from hupokorizesthai play the child, formed as HYPO- + korē child: see -ISTIC.]
A. adjective. Of the nature of a pet name; pertaining to the habit of using endearing or euphemistic terms. M18.
b. noun. A pet name, a familiar name. L19.

■ hypocorism noun = HYPOCORISTIC noun M19.

■ hypocoristical adjective: only in E17.

■ hypocoristically adverb M17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲