LITOTES


Meaning of LITOTES in English

n. ironical understatement, esp. the expressing of an affirmative by the negative of its contrary (e.g. I shan't be sorry for I shall be glad).

[ LL f. Gk litotes f. litos plain, meagre ]

Concise Oxford English dictionary.      Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка.