Topic · from the English index · as printed

Litotes

SOME GRAMMATICAL AND RHETORICAL FIGURES

Litotes (λῑτότης plainness, simplicity) is understatement so as to intensify, affirmation expressed by the negative of the contrary. Cp. 2694. Meiōsis (μείωσις lessening) is ordinarily the same as litotes. Thus: “One of the few immortal names That were not born to die”: Halleck.