hypocorism

hy·poc·o·rism  (h-pk-rzm, hp-kôrzm, -kr-)

n.

1. A name of endearment; a pet name.

2. The use of such names.

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[Late Latin hypocorisma, from Greek hupokorisma, from hupokorizesthai, to call by endearing names : hypo-, beneath, secretly; see hypo- + korizesthai, to caress (from koros, boy or kor, girl; see ker-² in Indo-European roots).]

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hypo·co·ristic (hp-k-rstk) adj. & n.

hypo·co·risti·cal·ly adv.

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hypocorism

1. the creation or use of pet names, as Dick for Richard.
2. a pet name.
3. baby talk. — hypocoristic, adj.

See also: Names

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

hypocorism - a name of endearment (especially one using a diminutive suffix); "`Billy' is a hypocorism for `William'" pet name name - a language unit by which a person or thing is known; "his name really is George Washington"; "those are two names for the same thing"