[di.min.u.tive] n [ME diminutif, fr. ML diminutivum, alter. of LL deminutivum, fr. neut. of deminutivus, adj., fr. deminutus, pp. of deminuere] (14c) 1: a diminutive word, affix, or name
2: a diminutive individual
[2]diminutive adj (14c) 1: indicating small size and sometimes the state or quality of being familiarly known, lovable, pitiable, or contemptible--used of affixes (as -ette, -kin, -ling) and of words formed with them (as kitchenette, manikin, duckling), of clipped forms (as Jim), and of altered forms (as Peggy)--compare augmentative
2: exceptionally or notably small: tiny syn see small -- di.min.u.tive.ly adv -- di.min.u.tive.ness n