diminutive

a. [ Cf. L. deminutivus, F. diminutif. ] 1. Below the average size; very small; little. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Expressing diminution; as, a diminutive word. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Tending to diminish. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Diminutive of liberty. Shaftesbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such water flies, diminutives of nature. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of the same kind with that denoted by the primitive; as, gosling, eaglet, lambkin. [ 1913 Webster ]

Babyisms and dear diminutives. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a diminutive or petty form of the action, as scribble. [ 1913 Webster ]