litotes
['laitәuti:z]
n. 叙, 言



litotes
[ noun ]
understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)
<noun.communication>
saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' is an example of litotes



Litotes \Li"to*tes\ (l[imac]"t[-o]*t[=e]z), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
lito`ths, from lito`s plain, simple.] (Rhet.)
A diminution or softening of statement for the sake of
avoiding censure or increasing the effect by contrast with
the moderation shown in the form of expression; a form of
understatement; as, `` a citizen of no mean city,'' that is,
of an illustrious city; or, ``not bad'', meaning ``good''.
[1913 Webster +PJC]


Meiosis \Mei*o"sis\ (m[-i]*[=o]"s[i^]s), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
mei`wsis, fr. meioy^n to make smaller, from mei`wn. See
{Meionite}.]
1. (Rhet.) Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a
thing as being less than it really is; understatement; see
also {litotes}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]

2. (Cell Biology) The cellular process by which a diploid
progenitor cell forms haploid gametes, including a
division of one diploid cell into two cells, each with one
of the homologous sets of chromosomes.
[PJC]