litotes Hear it!

litotes definition

li·to·tes (līt′ə tēz′, lī tōt′ēz)

noun

understatement for effect, esp. such understatement in which something is expressed by a negation of the contrary (Ex.: not a few regrets)

Etymology: Gr litotēs < litos, smooth, simple, plain, akin to leios: see lime

Related Forms:

  • litotic li·tot′ic (lī tät′ik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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