English
French
litotes [Brit lʌɪˈtəʊtiːz, Am ˈlaɪdəˌtiz, laɪˈtoʊdiz, ˈlɪdəˌtiz] N npl LIT
- litotes
- litote f
French
English
-
- litotes
PONS OpenDict
Would you like to add a word, a phrase or a translation?
We'd love you to send us a new entry for PONS OpenDict. The submitted suggestions are reviewed by the PONS editorial team and incorporated into the results accordingly.
Monolingual examples (not verified by PONS Editors)
The pattern for early litotes was to start with two words, mainly a positive and a negative connected by a particle.
en.wikipedia.org Rhetorically, this becomes the device of litotes; it can be difficult to distinguish litotes from pleonastic double negation, a feature which may be used for ironic effect.
en.wikipedia.org This construction is technically called litotes; it's a form of deliberate understatement that is often used comically.
www.theglobeandmail.com Litotes is a form of understatement, always deliberate and with the intention of emphasis.
en.wikipedia.org Litotes, such as not bad, not much and you're not wrong, are also used, as are diminutives, which are commonly used and are often used to indicate familiarity.
en.wikipedia.org