Examine individual changes

'{{For|a list of diminutives by language|List of diminutives by language}} A '''diminutive'''<ref name="more"> Beyond the ''diminutive form'' of a single word, a ''diminutive'' can be a multi-word name, such as "Tiny Tim" or "Little Dorrit".</ref> is a [[word]] which has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment.<ref name=UKgov/><ref>Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 6th edition</ref> A {{nowrap|'''diminutive form'''}} ([[list of glossing abbreviations|abbreviated]] {{sc|'''dim'''}}) is a [[grammatical inflection]] used to express such meanings; in many languages, such inflections can be translated as "little" and diminutives can also be formed as multi-word constructions such as "[[Tiny Tim (disambiguation)|Tiny Tim]]". Diminutives are used frequently when speaking to small children or when expressing extreme tenderness and intimacy to an adult. As such, they are often employed for [[nicknames]] and [[hypocorism|pet names]]. The opposite of the diminutive form is the [[augmentative]]. In many languages, formation of diminutives by adding [[suffix]]es is a [[Productivity (linguistics)|productive]] part of the language.<ref name="UKgov"> "The Standards Site: Glossary - D to F", [[Crown copyright|Crown Copyright]], 1997-2008, webpage: [http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/secondary/keystage3/respub/mflframework/appendices/glossary_of_terms/d_to_f/ Gov-UK-Glossary-DEF]. </ref> A {{nowrap|'''double diminutive'''}} is a diminutive form with two diminutive suffixes rather than one. While many languages apply a grammatical diminutive to [[nouns]], a few—including [[#Dutch|Dutch]], [[#Latin|Latin]], [[#Polish|Polish]], [[#Macedonian|Macedonian]] and [[#Russian|Russian]]—also use it for [[adjectives]] and even other [[Lexical category|parts of speech]]. In English the alteration of meaning is often conveyed through [[clipping (morphology)|clipping]], making the words shorter and more [[colloquial]]. Diminutives formed by adding affixes in other languages are often longer and not necessarily understood as colloquial. In some contexts, diminutives are also employed in a [[pejorative]] sense, to denote that someone or something is weak or childish. For example, one of the last of the Western Roman emperors was named [[Romulus Augustus]], but this was diminuted to "Romulus Augustulus" to express his powerlessness. ==Notes and references== {{reflist}} ==See also== {{wiktionary|diminutive}} * [[Augmentative]] * [[Affect (linguistics)]] * [[Comparison (grammar)]] * [[Hypocorism]] [[Category:Linguistic morphology]] [[Category:Suffixes]]'