-let - Wikiwand

Etymology

From Middle English -let, -elet, from Old French -elet, a double diminutive from Old French -el + -et.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /-lət/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Audio (Southern England): (file)

Suffix

-let

A diminutive suffix.
Synonyms: (suffixes) -cule, -ee, -el, -et, -ette, -icle, -ie, -kin, -le, -ling, -ole, -ule, -y, (prefixes) mini-, micro-, nano-

booklet, a small book

applet, a small computer application

owlet, a small (young) owl

piglet, a small (young) pig

manlet, a short man
Piece; as in a suit of armor.
bracelet, the "arm piece" or "arm protector"

gauntlet, the "glove piece" or "glove protector"

epaulet, the "shoulder piece" or "shoulder protector"

Usage notes

Alongside -ie / -y, -ling, and -ette, -let is one of the three most productive diminutive affixes in modern English. It is used almost exclusively with concrete nouns and (unusually for a diminutive) never with names. When used with objects, it generally denotes diminution only in size; when used with animals, it generally denotes young animals; when used with adult persons, it is generally depreciative, connoting pettiness and conveying contempt. When used to describe parts in a suit of armor and some other contexts it denotes a piece or component of the larger whole.

English

Etymology

Pronunciation

Suffix

Usage notes

Derived terms

References

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Hungarian