n. 1. A name of endearment; a pet name. 2. The use of such names. [Late Latin hypocorisma, from Greek hupokorisma, from hupokorizesthai, to call by endearing names : hupo-, beneath, secretly; see HYPO- + korizesthai, to caress (from koros, boy or korē, girl; see ker-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] hy′po·co·ristic (hī′pə-kə-rĭstĭk) adj. & n. hy′po·co·risti·cal·ly adv. |
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