Hypocorism Definition

Origin of Hypocorism

• Late Latin hypocorisma, a loan from Ancient Greek noun ὑποκόρισμα (hypokórisma) from the verb ὑποκορίζομαι (hypokorízomai, “to talk in a childish manner"). The Ancient Greek verb ὑποκορίζομαι (hypokorízomai) is compounded from ὑπό (hypo-, “under, beneath, secretly") + κορίζομαι (korízomai, “to caress"). In the verb you can see the word κόρος (kóros, “boy") or κόρη (kórÄ“, “girl").

  From Wiktionary

• Late Latin hypocorisma from Greek hupokorisma from hupokorizesthai to call by endearing names hupo- beneath, secretly hypo– korizesthai to caress (from koros boy) (or korē girl ker-² in Indo-European roots)

  From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition