User:XN73Q/Latin/Suffixes/Diminutive

<!--The diminutive suffix can show shortness, smallness, affection or can be condescening. The emperor Romulus Augustus had a diminutive nickname that showed the latter. Augustulus was meant to show how insignficant he was. On the other hand, emperors like Caligula had affectionate ones (Caligula means "Little sandal"). The diminutive will often just be a nickname (which will often be in the Vocative) for example Iacobule would be a nickname for Iacobus. "-lus" and "-la" are generally the ending forms throughout the declensions. "-olus" is given after a vowel (Gladius → Gladiolus) Abbreviations used in the tables below are "Nom." = Nominative, "Gen." = Genitive and "Dim." = Diminutive.

In nouns
The diminutive form of a noun takes the gender of the word of origin e.g. Vicus (masc.) becomes Viculus (masc.) Some irregular forms are Conventus (masc.) which becomes Conventiculum (neu.) and Nux (fem.) which becomes Nucleus (masc.)

The first and second declensions
In proper names of the first declension, "-ia" can sometimes become "-illa" (Lucia → Lucilla). An exception to the rules above is "-ina" which becomes "-ella". So femina (lady) would drop the "-in-" and make femella (meaning "girl") rather than "feminella". Masculine and neuter "-in-" words (ending in -inus, -um) become "-illus, -um" like in Catillus, coming from Catinus.

The third declension
The third declension is the trickiest of the declensions for adding a diminutive suffix. The many forms each have endings which vary and the gender has to be individually learnt.

Double diminutive
When the normal diminutive is "-ulus, -a, -um," The double diminutive is "-ellus, -a, -um." Therefore Capitulum (Little head - The diminutive of "Caput, -itis") becomes Capitellum (also neuter - probably translating as "tiny head"). The triple diminutive is "-ellulus, -a, -um,", so Capitellulum. It is then possible to make infinite forms (See the image.)

In adjectives

 * Paulus
 * Parvulus

In verbs

 * Cantillo, Cantillare, Cantillavi, Cantillatus = Sing low, low hum