litotes
pronunciation
How to pronounce litotes in British English:
UK [laɪˈtəʊti:z]
How to pronounce litotes in American English:
US [laɪˈtoʊtiz]
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- Noun:
- understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)
Word Origin
- litotes (n.)
- rhetorical figure in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its opposite, from Greek litotes, literally "plainness, simplicity," from litos "smooth, plain, small, meager," from PIE root *(s)lei- "slimy, sticky, slippery" (hence "smooth"); see slime (n.).