Monday, April 03, 2006

Word of the Day

Word of the Day

hypocorism (n)

A pet name or the use of pet names

"President Jimmy Carter ... institutionalized his hypocorism with determination and skill, thus becoming the first President in history to get away with official use of a nickname."
--Time magazine

When I was a wee tot, my mother's pet name for me was "Pumpkin." Don't ask me why -- I didn't resemble one. I imagine she just liked the sound of it. My pet name for Philip, my son, was/is "Peanut," as in "my little Peanut," which makes more sense, I think. Sorta.

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