amasiuncula

Feminine form of amāsiunculus, from amāsius (“lover”) +‎ -unculus (diminutive suffix).

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [a.maː.siˈʊŋ.kʊ.ɫa]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [a.ma.s̬iˈuŋ.ku.la]

amāsiuncula f (genitive amāsiunculae, masculine amāsiunculus); first declension

1. (derogatory, hapax legomenon) a little or petty female lover, a little or petty dear
   • c. 27 CE – 66 CE, Petronius, Satyricon 75:

     Puerum basiavi frugalissimum, […] Non est dignus quem in oculis feram? Sed Fortunata vetat. Ita tibi videtur, fulcipedia? Suadeo, bonum tuum concoquas, milva, et me non facias ringentem, amasiuncula: alioquin experieris cerebrum meum.

     • Translation by Michael Heseltine, 1913

       I kissed that excellent boy […] Does he not deserve to be treated well by me? But Fortunata will not have it. Is that your feeling, my high-heeled hussy? I advise you to chew what you have bitten off, you vulture, and not make me show my teeth, my little dear: otherwise you shall know what my anger is.

First-declension noun.

• “ămāsĭuncŭla”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette, page 109/2.