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Definition of litotes
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perfunctory
Definition: (adjective) unenthusiastic, routine, or mechanical.
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< litmus test
litre >
li·to·tes
(l
t
-t
z
, l
t
-, l
-t
t
z)
KEY
NOUN:
pl.
litotes
A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite, as in
This is no small problem.
ETYMOLOGY:
Greek
l
tot
s
, from
l
tos
,
plain
; see
lei-
in Indo-European roots
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