Caressive

//kəˈɹɛsɪv// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Having the nature of a caress; gentle, soothing.

    "But the faithful creature [a dog] had soon returned, and comprehending that his mistress was confined in this great stone building, he whined and howled, waiting, within ten feet of the sentinel, a caressive reply."

  2. 2
    Of a diminutive: indicating affection or endearment.

    "All diminutives eaſily acquire a careſſive character, as animula, ocellus, &c. the Greeks even called their diminutives ὐποκρισικα; and the ſofter form, lin, rather than kin, would moſt naturally be ſo appropriated."

Noun
  1. 1
    A type of diminutive indicating affection or endearment.

    "[W]e, like the ancient Mexicans and many another lower race, have terms of praise and endearment,—"a jewel of a babe," and the like,—legions of caressives and diminutives in the use of which some of the Low German dialects are more lavish even than Lowland Scotch."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From caress + -ive.

Etymology 2

From caress + -ive.

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