what is litotes?
definition
Litotes is understatement and is usually used for deliberate effect and is usually presented in the form of a double negative.
examples
He is not unattractive .... OR ..... He is no oil painting.
explanation
First Phrase: "He is not unattractive." The simpler way to say this would be to say "He is attractive." However, the writer uses both the word "not" and the prefix "un" before attractive. In this case, the two cancel each other out, so the writer is still saying that the person is attractive to look at. The effect of using the litotes is to make the speaker sound more knowledgeable or intelligent and at the same time slightly arrogant or posh. A writer will use litotes to emphasize a point and to offer the reader more depth of understanding into the character's personality. In some instances, it can create a witty and humorous effect.
Second Phrase: "He is no oil painting." This has the same explanation as the previous one using the double negative. However this is a more complex form of litotes because the reader has to calculate first that the writer infers that an oil painting will invariably portray somebody as good looking.
Second Phrase: "He is no oil painting." This has the same explanation as the previous one using the double negative. However this is a more complex form of litotes because the reader has to calculate first that the writer infers that an oil painting will invariably portray somebody as good looking.