litotesPronunciation: /lʌɪˈtəʊtiːz/Definition of litotes noun [mass noun] ironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (e.g. I shan’t be sorry for I shall be glad). Origin: late 16th century: via late Latin from Greek litotēs, from litos 'plain, meagre'litotes in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of litotes in the US English dictionary
