minimizer

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
Examples (linguistics)
  • She wouldn't say a word.
  • I don't give a crap.
  • I'm not paying him a red cent.

Etymology[edit]

minimize +‎ -er. In the linguistics sense, coined by American linguist Dwight Bolinger in 1972.

Noun[edit]

minimizer (plural minimizers)

  1. That which minimizes.
  2. (linguistics) A word or phrase referring to a very small quantity of something, used to reinforce a negative sentence.