Syntaxiom

diminutively

/dɪˈmɪnjətɪvli/ adv

In a diminutive manner.

Word Origin Diminutively comes from diminutive, from Latin diminutivus, from deminuere 'to lessen', from de- 'away' + minuere 'to make small'. Minuere is from PIE *mei- 'small', which also gives us minor, minus, and minister (originally a servant, a lesser person). The dis- prefix here is actually de- (down, away). So diminutively means in a way that makes something small. Related: diminish, diminution.

adv In a diminutive manner.

She smiled diminutively, almost hiding her expression behind her hand.

(副词) 微小地

她极小幅度地微笑，几乎用手掩住了表情。

(adverbio) De manera diminuta.

Ella sonrió levemente, casi ocultando su expresión detrás de su mano.

(adverbe) timidement; de manière menue; avec petitesse [De manière minuscule ou délicate ; au diminutif.]

Elle sourit de façon discrète, cachant presque son expression derrière sa main.

(Adverb) winzig; kleinlaut; zurückhaltend [Auf eine Weise, die klein, zierlich oder bescheiden wirkt; in verkleinernder Art.]

Sie lächelte **diminutively** und verbarg ihren Gesichtsausdruck fast hinter der Hand.

(副詞) 小さく可愛らしく。ちっぽけで愛らしい様子で。

彼女は小さな声で微笑み、自分の表情をまるで隠すように手で口を覆った。

(advérbio) diminutamente; de modo diminuto [De maneira diminuta.]

Ela sorriu de modo tímido, quase escondendo sua expressão atrás da mão.

Synonyms: minutely infinitesimally imperceptibly negligibly insignificantly Antonyms: largely hugely enormously immensely
Word parts: di + minut + ive + ly

Related words

diminish diminution ministry

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