English
hypocorism
Hypocorism comes from Ancient Greek ὑποκόρισμα ‘diminutive, hypocoristic’, from κορίζομαι ‘to caress’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- ‘to grow’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱer-‘to grow’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*kórwos‘boy’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenic, derivedc. 2200–1600 BCE*kórwā‘girl’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκόρη‘girl’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκορίζομαι‘to caress’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑποκόρισμαhupokórisma‘diminutive, hypocoristic’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEhypocorisma
- Englishearliest quotation 1850hypocorism
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱer-‘to grow’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*kórwos‘boy’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenic, derivedc. 2200–1600 BCE*kórwā‘girl’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκόρη‘girl’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκορίζομαι‘to caress’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEὑποκόρισμαhupokórisma‘diminutive, hypocoristic’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEhypocorisma
- Englishearliest quotation 1850hypocorism
Earliest quotation: 1850, Benjamin Hall Kennedy, Pet-names: “Mary" is informed that "Polly" is one of those…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- ‘to grow’
increase, create, crew, increasing, creative, decrease, creature, creator, cereal, crescent, creole, increment, excrement, accretion, cru, croissant, procreation, creat, 25 more
through Ancient Greek κόρη ‘girl’
Today it means
noun A term of endearment, often a diminutive; a pet name.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- / hypocorism