n.
Pronunciation: ' l ī -t ə - ˌ t ē z, ' li-, l ī - ' t ō - ˌ t ē z
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural litotes
Etymology: Greek litot ē s, from litos simple, perhaps from lit-, lis linen cloth
Date: 1589
: understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary (as in “ not a bad singer ” or “ not unhappy ” )