hypocoristicadj.n.
/ˌhʌɪpə(ʊ)kəˈrɪstɪk//ˌhɪpə(ʊ)kəˈrɪstɪk/ A. adj.
Of the nature of a pet-name; pertaining to the habit of using endearing or euphemistic terms.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [adjective] > relating to a pet name
hypocoristical1609
hypocoristic1796
hypochoristic1931
1796 S. Pegge Anonymiana (1809) 98 Harry..is the free or hypocoristic name for Henry.
1865 F. W. Farrar Chapters on Lang. xxii. 282 Imagine the power and danger of this hypocoristic process in times when it was fashionable to fling a delicate covering over the naked hideousness of vice.
1889 in Cent. Dict.
1957 R. W. Zandvoort Handbk. Eng. Gram. (new ed.) ix. ii. 303 The technical term for attributive ‘pet’ is ‘hypocoristic’ (adj. and noun).
B. n.
A pet-name.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [noun] > pet name
minikin name1756
pet name1807
pet word1829
hypocorism1850
petit nom1867
hypocoristic1930
pet form1932
1930 Times Lit. Suppl. 1 May 361/2 Mere riddles..where there is no question of..stop-voicing of hypocoristics.
1953 K. Jackson Lang. & Hist. in Early Brit. ii. 555 The AS. personal names Cata, Ceatta..are from Pr[imitive] W[elsh] hypocoristics.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [adjective] > relating to a pet name
hypocoristical1609
hypocoristic1796
hypochoristic1931
1609 Bp. W. Barlow Answer Catholike English-man 20 An hypocoristicall alleuiation.
hypocoˈristically adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [adverb] > by way of specific types of name
hypocoristically1652
patronymically1751
cognominally1825
pseudonymously1831
1652 T. Urquhart Εκσκυβαλαυρον 278 With Hyperbolical [expressions], either Epitatically or Hypocoristically, as the purpose required to be Elated or Extenuated.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online December 2018).
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adj.n.1609