hypocoristic /ˌhīpəkəˈristik/ I. adjective denoting, or of the nature of, a pet name or diminutive form of a name. II. noun a hypocoristic name or form. III. derivatives hypocorism /hīˈpäkəˌrizəm, hi- / noun – origin mid 19th cent.: from Greek hupokorisma, from hupokorizesthai ‘play the child,’ from hupo ‘under’ + korē ‘child.’
