Word Study

: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

[2x]

: Læ Lé L- L. La Lb Lc Ld Le Lf Lg Lh Li Lj Ll Lm Lo Lp Lr Ls Lt Lu Lv Lw Lx Ly

Table of Contents POS
HYPHEN
WORDNET DICTIONARY
CIDE DICTIONARY
OXFORD DICTIONARY

litotes

POS

Noun

HYPHEN

li=to=tes

top

WORDNET DICTIONARY

Noun litotes has 1 sense

litotes(n = noun.communication) meiosis - understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary); "saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' is an example of litotes"

is a kind of understatement, rhetorical device

top

CIDE DICTIONARY

litotes, n. [NL., fr. Gr. lito`ths, from lito`s plain, simple.].

A diminution or softening of statement for the sake of avoiding censure or increasing the effect by contrast with the moderation shown in the form of expression; a form of understatement; as, “ a citizen of no mean city,” that is, of an illustrious city; or, “not bad”, meaning “good”. [1913 Webster]

top

OXFORD DICTIONARY

litotes, n. ironical understatement, esp. the expressing of an affirmative by the negative of its contrary (e.g. I shan't be sorry for I shall be glad).

Etymology

LL f. Gk litotes f. litos plain, meagre

For further exploring for "litotes" in Webster Dictionary Online