Litotes | Litotes-Meaning, Definition, Examples, Illustration

Litotes | Litotes-Meaning, Definition, Examples, Illustration

Litotes | Litotes-Meaning, Definition, Examples, Illustration

Litotes is a deliberate understatement. This figure of speech consists of the use of negative words or phrases to express a positive statement. Examples:

1. He is not wise.

Here ‘not wise’ is used to express a positive meaning that ‘he is a fool’.

2. You are ‘not wrong’. (right)
3. Shakespeare is a writer of ‘no mean order’. (high order).
4. It was ‘no earthly’ sacrifice. (heavenly)
5. Hiren is ‘not unknown’ in the literary circle. (known)
6. I had ‘no little difficulty’ in persuading Ratan to join the club. (much difficulty)
7. ‘Days not dark’ are ahead of you. (bright days)
8. Visiting a marketplace is ‘not uncommon for him. (common)
9. The weather is ‘not unpleasant’. (pleasant). 0 0 0.

Read More: Simile Meaning, Definition, Illustration

N. B. The article ‘Litotes-Meaning, Definition, Examples, Illustration‘ originally belongs to the book ‘The Rhetoric‘ by Menonim Menonimus.

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Books of Composition by M. Menonimus:

1. Advertisement Writing
2. Amplification Writing
3. Note Making
4. Paragraph Writing
5. Notice Writing
6. Passage Comprehension
7. The Art of Poster Writing
8. The Art of Letter Writing
9. Report Writing
10. Story Writing
11. Substance Writing
12. School Essays Part-I
13. School Essays Part-II
14. School English Grammar Part-I
15. School English Grammar Part-II..