Diminutive, a.
Etymology: [Cf. L. deminutivus, F. diminutif.]
1. Below the average size; very small; little.
2. Expressing diminution; as, a diminutive word.
3. Tending to diminish. [R.] Diminutive of liberty. Shaftesbury.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Diminutive, n.
1. Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing. Such water flies, diminutives of nature. Shak.
2. (Gram.)
A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of the same kind with that denoted by the primitive; as, gosling, eaglet, lambkin. Babyisms and dear diminutives. Tennyson.
Note: The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a diminutive or petty form of the action, as scribble.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for diminutive; he lists it under minute.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.