diminutivum tantum

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin diminutīvum tantum (“only diminutive”).

Noun

diminutivum tantum n (plural diminutiva tantum)

1. (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”)

Related terms

• diminutief
• diminutivum
• plurale tantum
• singulare tantum

 

See also

• English Wiktionary's coverage of Dutch diminutiva tantum
• Dutch Wiktionary's coverage of Dutch diminutiva tantum