What does litote mean?
Definitions for litote
litote
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word litote.
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Wiktionary
litotenoun
An instance of litotes.
Etymology: Backformation from litotes, perhaps with influence from corresponding forms in other languages.
Wikipedia
Litote
In rhetoric, litotes (, or US: ), also known classically as antenantiosis or moderatour, is a figure of speech and form of verbal irony in which understatement is used to emphasize a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, often incorporating double negatives for effect. Litotes is a form of understatement, more specifically meiosis, and is always deliberate with the intention of emphasis. However, the interpretation of negation may depend on context, including cultural context. In speech, it may also depend on intonation and emphasis; for example, the phrase "not bad" can be intonated differently so as to mean either "mediocre" or "excellent". Along the same lines, litotes can be used as a euphemism to diminish the harshness of an observation; "He isn't the cleanest person I know" could be used as a means of indicating that someone is a messy person.The use of litotes is common in English, Russian, German, Yiddish, Dutch, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Ukrainian, Polish, Mandarin, French, Czech and Slovak, and is also prevalent in a number of other languages and dialects. It is a feature of Old English poetry and of the Icelandic sagas and is a means of much stoical restraint.The word litotes is of Greek origin (λιτότης), meaning "simplicity", and is derived from the word λιτός, litos, meaning "plain, simple, small or meager".
Anagrams for litote »
Lottie
toilet
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of litote in Chaldean Numerology is: 6
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of litote in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9
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"litote." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/litote>.
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