What is the meaning of litote?
understatement
Definition of litotes : understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary (as in “not a bad singer” or “not unhappy”)
What is an example of a litote?
In truth, a litotes will use irony to emphasize an idea without minimizing its importance. For example, a friend might expect her roommate to talk about someone who’s obviously wealthy by saying, “He’s filthy rich.” However, when she comes out and says, “Well, he’s not exactly a pauper,” it’s a little unexpected.
What is litotes in stylistics?
Litotes is a form of understatement which uses the denied opposite of a word to weaken or soften a message.
What is the figure of speech litotes?
In rhetoric, litotes (/laɪˈtoʊtiːz/, /ˈlaɪtətiːz/ or US: /ˈlɪtətiːz/), also known classically as antenantiosis or moderatour, is a figure of speech and form of verbal irony in which understatement is used to emphasize a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, often incorporating double negatives for …
How do you write a Litote?
Litotes
- Litotes is pretty simple in the way it works: instead of stating something directly, you state that the contrary statement is not true.
- Typically, the contrary statement will be phrased as some sort of superlative (for example, “he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed”).
What is litotes and meiosis?
In rhetoric, meiosis is a euphemistic figure of speech that intentionally understates something or implies that it is lesser in significance or size than it really is. Meiosis is the opposite of auxesis, and is often compared to litotes. The term is derived from the Greek μειόω (“to make smaller”, “to diminish”).
What is the function of litotes?
The Purpose of Litotes Litotes are a way to actually emphasize the positive by using a double negative. Litotes causes the listener to think and consider the statement. Litotes are also a way to skirt an issue or to try to save face.
What is irony and litotes?
Litotes is a form of verbal irony that uses a negative statement to express the opposite of what is meant. It is used to ironically understate what is being said, making something seem less than/smaller than what it actually is. This is often done by using double negatives (such as ‘I can’t not go. ‘) – but not always!
How are litotes used?
Litotes is a device used to state an affirmative without direct use of affirmative wording. For example, the phrase “I don’t hate it” reflects use of litotes. In this case, juxtaposing the negative words “don’t” and “hate” function together to indicate the opposite meaning or affirmative.
What is the difference between irony and litotes?
What is an example of meiosis?
An example of meiosis is when a chromosome reduces from a double cell to a single cell. (genetics) The process of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes from diploid to haploid, as in the production of gametes.
Which country is the origin of the word litotes?
History And Etymology For Litotes The word litotes comes from the Greek words for “plain” and “simple,” spelled “litos.” The ancient Greeks valued understatement, a rhetorical style of saying something by saying its opposite. The Greek word for “rhetorical understatement” is litotes.
What’s the difference between litotes and understatement?
Litotes and understatement are both forms of speech that involve downplaying the characteristics of something. Understatement involves minimizing the importance of something and Litotes is a special kind of understatement which involves expressing a positive sentence using its negative form.
What is the opposite of litotes?
Antiphrasis is the rhetorical device of saying the opposite of what is actually meant in such a way that it is obvious what the true intention is. Some authors treat and use antiphrasis just as irony, euphemism or litotes.
What is hyperbole and litotes?
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration to make a point. Litotes is deliberate understatement also to make a point.
Is litotes double negative?
A litotes by definition is a form of understatement for emphasis through the use of a double negative. Instead of saying, for instance, that the weather is good today, one would employ a litotes by saying that the weather isn’t bad today. For humans, interpreting a double negative is intuitive and easy.
What is called meiosis?
Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction.
Are the chromosomes in mitosis a mixture of mother and father chromosomes explain your answer comparing the process to meiosis?
Explain your answer, comparing the process to meiosis. Yes, chromosomes in mitosis are a mixture of mother and father chromosomes. This process is called Meiotic recombination. The process explains why children have a combination of their parents’ characteristics.
Is litotes a literary device?
Litotes is a figure of speech featuring a phrase that utilizes negative wording or terms to express a positive assertion or statement. Litotes is a common literary device, most often used in speech, rhetoric, and nonfiction.
What is a example of hyperbole?
Those who hear or read the hyperbole should understand that it is an exaggeration. You’ve probably heard common hyperboles in everyday conversations such as “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse,” “I’ve seen this movie a hundred times,” or “It cost an arm and a leg.”
What is a litote in literature?
The use of litotes is common in English, Russian, German, Yiddish, Dutch, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Ukrainian, Polish, Mandarin, French, Czech and Slovak, and is also prevalent in a number of other languages and dialects. It is a feature of Old English poetry and of the Icelandic sagas and is a means of much stoical restraint.
What is a litotes figure of speech?
Litotes is a figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Plural: litotes. Adjective: litotic. Also known (in classical rhetoric) as antenantiosis and moderatour. Litotes is a form of both conversational implicature and verbal irony.
What does “par litote” mean?
Par métonymie, on désigne par litote une expression utilisant ce procédé. La litote utilise souvent la négation. Exemple : Nous étions perdus dans la forêt. L’un de nos compagnons nous suggéra de choisir une direction, de la suivre et de ne pas en changer. Ce n’était pas idiot.
How does Wordsworth use litotes in his poetry?
In his poetic work, Wordsworth utilizes litotes by pairing the words “not” and “seldom.” This negation implies that the poet means “often” by stating “not seldom.” In this way, he creates a sense of understatement about the frequency with which he separates himself from a crowd or busy environment to appreciate images and the presence of nature.