-let

See also: let, Let, lét, lèt, and lêt

English

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French -el, from Latin -ellus + Middle French -et, from Latin -ittus, both diminutive suffixes. Replaced Middle English -el, from Old English -el, -il.

Suffix

-let

1. a diminutive suffix; for example:

• booklet, a small book
• applet, a small computer application
• owlet, a small (young) owl

Derived terms

► English words suffixed with -let

Usage notes

Alongside -ie/-y 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.

References

• Schneider, Klaus P. Diminutives in English, p. 96 et seq. 2003.

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Hungarian

Etymology

-l +‎ -et, created during the Hungarian language reform which took place in the 18th–19th centuries. The neologists popularized it based on verbs ending in -l and further derived with -at/-et.

Suffix

-let

1. (noun suffix) Added to different parts of speech to form a noun.

   rész ‎(“part”) → részlet ‎(“detail”)

   keres ‎(“to search”) → kereslet ‎(“demand (in economics)”)

   egy ‎(“one”) → egylet ‎(“society, association, club”)

Usage notes

• (noun suffix) Harmonic variants:

  -lat is added to a back vowel word

  -let is added to a front vowel word

Derived terms

► Hungarian nouns suffixed with -let

See also

• Appendix:Hungarian suffixes