Translations for litotes in the English»French Dictionary (Go to French»English)

litotes [Brit lʌɪˈtəʊtiːz, Am ˈlaɪdəˌtiz, laɪˈtoʊdiz, ˈlɪdəˌtiz] N npl LIT

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litotes

Translations for litotes in the French»English Dictionary (Go to English»French)

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litote (en rhétorique)

litotes

American English

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English

The pattern for early litotes was to start with two words, mainly a positive and a negative connected by a particle. en.wikipedia.org

Litotes is a form of understatement, always deliberate and with the intention of emphasis. 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

I think that's called litotes. www.odt.co.nz

For the use of double negations or similar as understatements (not unappealing, not bad, etc.) see litotes. 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

Meiosis is the opposite of auxesis, and also sometimes used as a synonym for litotes. en.wikipedia.org

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