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”)