litotes
[ lahy-tuh-teez, lit-uh-, lahy-toh-teez ]
/ ˈlaɪ təˌtiz, ˈlɪt ə-, laɪˈtoʊ tiz /
noun, plural li·to·tes. Rhetoric.
understatement, especially that in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary, as in “not bad at all.”
Compare
hyperbole.
Origin of litotes
1650–60; < New Latin < Greek
lītótēs orig., plainness, simplicity, derivative of
lītós plain, small, meager
Words nearby litotes
litigator,
litigious,
litmus,
litmus paper,
litmus test,
litotes,
litre,
litt. b.,
litt. d.,
litt.m.,
littb
British Dictionary definitions for litotes
litotes
/ (ˈlaɪtəʊˌtiːz) /
noun plural -tes
understatement for rhetorical effect, esp when achieved by using negation with a term in place of using an antonym of that term, as in "She was not a little upset" for "She was extremely upset."
Word Origin for litotes
C17: from Greek, from
litos small