adj. & n.
adj. 1 remarkably small; tiny. 2 Gram. (of a word or suffix) implying smallness, either actual or imputed in token of affection, scorn, etc. (e.g. -let, -kins).
n. Gram. a diminutive word or suffix. diminutival adj. diminutively adv. diminutiveness n.
[ ME f. OF diminutif, -ive f. LL diminutivus (as DIMINISH) ]