What is the meaning of diminutive?

Answer 1

The act of diminishing, or of making or becoming less; state of being diminished; reduction in size, quantity, or degree; -- opposed to augmentation or increase., The act of lessening dignity or consideration, or the state of being deprived of dignity; a lowering in estimation; degradation; abasement., Omission, inaccuracy, or defect in a record., In counterpoint, the imitation of, or reply to, a subject, in notes of half the length or value of those the subject itself.

Answer 2

n: a word, affix, or name 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)

Example: Think of piglet being the diminutive form of pig. It conveys both the fact of the piglet being smaller in stature as well as being more lovable.