n.
Pronunciation: h ī - ' pä-k ə - ˌ ri-z ə m; ˌ h ī -p ə - ' ko ̇ r- ˌ i-
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin hypocorisma, from Greek hypokorisma, from hypokorizesthai to call by pet names, from hypo- + korizesthai to caress, from koros boy, kor ē girl
Date: 1850
1 : a pet name
2 : the use of pet names
– hy · po · co · ris · tic \ ˌ h ī -p ə -k ə - ' ris-tik \ or hy · po · co · ris · ti · cal \ -ti-k ə l \ adjective
– hy · po · co · ris · ti · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb