The word "smallish" is spelled with the letter combination "-llish" at its end, which makes it a derivative of the root word "small." The IPA phonetic transcription for "smallish" is /ˈsmɔːlɪʃ/, where "sm" represents the "sm" sound in "smile", "ɔː" represents the "aw" sound in "law", "lɪʃ" represents the "lish" sound in "delish." The suffix "-ish" is added to the root word "small" to denote the meaning of smallness, hence making "smallish" a perfect word to describe something that is moderately small.
Smallish is an adjective that refers to something or someone that is moderately or relatively small in size or extent. This term is typically used to describe objects, people, or animals that possess characteristics or dimensions that are somewhat diminutive or lesser than average.
In the context of physical objects, smallish signifies items that are noticeably smaller than what might be considered normal or expected. For example, a smallish car would indicate a vehicle that is smaller than the average size of cars in its category. Similarly, a smallish house might indicate a dwelling that is smaller in square footage compared to other houses in the same neighborhood.
When referring to people or animals, smallish implies that they are smaller in size or stature than what is commonly observed in their respective groups. For instance, a smallish dog could refer to a canine breed or individual that is smaller than the average size for that breed. Similarly, a smallish person may possess a smaller physical build or height than what is considered typical within their demographic.
Overall, smallish is a descriptive term utilized to convey the idea of something being smaller or moderately diminutive in relation to its category or average expectations.
Somewhat small.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word smallish is formed by adding the suffix -ish to the word small. The suffix -ish is derived from the Old English -isc which means like or somewhat. It is used to indicate a lesser degree or approximation of the base word. Therefore, smallish can be understood as somewhat small or fairly small.