hypocorism in British English
(haɪˈpɒkəˌrɪzəm) or hypocorisma (haɪˌpɒkəˈrɪzmə)
noun1. a pet name, esp one using a diminutive affix
"Sally" is a hypocorism for "Sarah"
2. another word for euphemism (sense 1)
Derived forms
hypocoristic (ˌhaɪpəkɔːˈrɪstɪk) or hypocoristical (ˌhaɪpəkəˈrɪstɪkəl) adjective
hypocoristically (ˌhypocoˈristically) adverb
Word origin
C19: from Greek
hupokorisma, from
hupokorizesthai to use pet names, from
hypo- beneath +
korizesthai, from
korē girl,
koros boy