'Litotes' definitions:
Definition of 'litotes'
(from WordNet)
noun
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" [syn: litotes, meiosis]
Definition of 'Litotes'
From: GCIDE
- Litotes \Li"to*tes\ (l[imac]"t[-o]*t[=e]z), n. [NL., fr. Gr. lito`ths, from lito`s plain, simple.] (Rhet.) 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 +PJC]
Definition of 'litotes'
From: GCIDE
- Meiosis \Mei*o"sis\ (m[-i]*[=o]"s[i^]s), n. [NL., fr. Gr. mei`wsis, fr. meioy^n to make smaller, from mei`wn. See Meionite.]
- 1. (Rhet.) Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really is; understatement; see also litotes. [1913 Webster +PJC]
- 2. (Cell Biology) The cellular process by which a diploid progenitor cell forms haploid gametes, including a division of one diploid cell into two cells, each with one of the homologous sets of chromosomes. [PJC]