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litotes

Syllabification: (li·to·tes)
Pronunciation: /ˈlītəˌtēz, ˈlit-, līˈtōtēz/

Definition of litotes

noun

Rhetoric
  • ironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (e.g., you won’t be sorry, meaning you’ll be glad).

Origin:

late 16th century: via late Latin from Greek litotēs, from litos 'plain, meager'

litotes in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of litotes in the British & World English dictionary

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