/ dɪˈmɪnjətɪv; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
( formal ) very small :
She was a diminutive figure beside her husband.
■ noun
1.
a word or an ending of a word that shows that sb/sth is small, for example piglet (= a young pig) , kitchenette (= a small kitchen)
2.
a short informal form of a word, especially a name :
'Nick' is a common diminutive of 'Nicholas'.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a grammatical term): from Old French diminutif , -ive , from late Latin diminutivus , from Latin deminut- diminished, from the verb deminuere , from minuere make small.