diminutivum tantum
Dutch
editEtymology
editBorrowed from Latin diminutīvum tantum (“only diminutive”).
Noun
editdiminutivum tantum n (plural diminutiva tantum)
- (grammar) A diminutive noun which has a meaning that (unlike a regular diminutive) is not entirely predictable given the base noun it is derived from, or which is not derived from any base noun at all and exists only in diminutive form.
- Hypernym: verkleinwoord
- non (“nun”) → nonnetje (“smew, Mergellus albellus”)
- ∅ → lieveheersbeestje (“ladybug”)