Litotes

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  litotes
       n : 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: {meiosis}]