ˈlīd.əˌtēz, ˈlid.-; līˈtōd.ēz noun
( plural litotes )
Etymology: Greek litotēs, from litos simple, plain; akin to Greek leios smooth — more at lime
1. : understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary (as in “He's not a bad ballplayer”) — opposed to hyperbole
2. : an example of litotes
the litotes in this passage