Sweety

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An affectionate nickname used for a loved one or child ; a small piece of confectionery, especially a sweet
2. A fond term of address for a dear person ; an informal British word for a single piece of candy
3. Used as an endearing name for someone cherished ; a lump of sugary confectionery eaten as a treat

Etymology: "Sweety" is simply "sweet" with the diminutive suffix "-y" added, the same ending that turns "doggy" or "Johnny" into pet forms. The adjective "sweet" goes back to Old English "swēte", meaning pleasing to taste or smell, and it is a word with ancient roots in the Germanic languages. The "-y" ending is much older than the word it is attached to here: it descends from Old English "-ig" and "-iġ", a suffix that formed adjectives and later became a familiar endearment marker. Using "-y" to shrink or affectionately mark a noun is what gives "sweety" its tender, pet-name quality. The term sits within a large family of English endearments built the same way, from "dearie" to "honey-y" forms, where a plain word takes on a small, fond ending. The meaning stays close to the original taste sense, so the noun has in effect carried the sweetness of food over to a person being addressed.

Synonyms: sweetie, darling, honey