🇨🇳Chinese Source WordCode: ZH

小词

Pronunciation / Transliteration: xiǎo cí

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Diminutive/dɪˈmɪn.jə.tɪv/
nounadjectiveCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #4500 frequency
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🇨🇳 Example Sentence in Chinese:

"词语'小猫'是'猫'的小词。"

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A word or suffix that indicates small size or a lesser degree.

    "In linguistics, 'kitten' is a diminutive form of 'cat'."
As adjective
  1. 1

    Describing something that is small or lesser in size.

    "The diminutive stature of the child made her appear younger than her age."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Late Latin deminutivus, from Latin deminuere meaning 'to diminish or lessen'. Entering English in the 15th century via Old French, it initially pertained to grammar and word formation before expanding to describe anything unusually small in physical scale.

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