Main Entry: li·to·tes

Pronunciation: \ˈlī-tə-ˌtēz, ˈli-, lī-ˈtō-ˌtēz\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural litotes

Etymology: Greek litotēs, 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”)