litotes

li·to·tes

noun
\ˈlī-tə-ˌtēz, ˈli-, lī-ˈtō-ˌtēz\

plural litotes

Definition of LITOTES

: understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary (as in “not a bad singer” or “not unhappy”)

Origin of LITOTES

Greek litotēs, from litos simple, perhaps from lit-, lis linen cloth

First Known Use: 1589

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

Rhymes with LITOTES

Ambonese, Androcles, Annamese, antifreeze, Assamese, Balinese, Bengalese, Bhutanese, Bolognese, Brooklynese, Cantonese, Cervantes, Ceylonese, Chersonese, Congolese, cottage cheese, diocese, expertise, Faeroese, federalese, fifth disease, Genovese, gourmandise, Hebrides, Heracles, Hercules, Hyades, ill at ease, in a breeze, Japanese, Javanese, Johnsonese, journalese, Kanarese, legalese, manganese, Milanese, Nepalese, Nipponese, overseas, Pekingese, Pericles, Pleiades, Portuguese, Pyrenees, shoot the breeze, Siamese, Sienese, Silures, Sinhalese, Socrates, Sophocles, Sporades, to one's knees