First Known Use: 1589
Dictionary
litotes
noun li·to·tes \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”)
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Origin of LITOTES
Greek litotēs, from litos simple, perhaps from lit-, lis linen cloth
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
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
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