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Litotes
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==Classical litotes== The first known mention of litotes is in a letter from [[Cicero]] in 55 BC (''[[De Oratore]]''). Cicero uses the word to mean simplicity (or frugality) of life. The meaning and the function of the word changed from 'simple' to the idea of understatement that involves double negatives, a way to state things simply. [[Old Norse]] had several types of litotes. These points are denied negatives ("She's not a terrible wife" meaning "she's a good wife"), denied positives ("He's not a great learner" meaning 'he has difficulty learning'), creating litotes without negating anything, and creating litotes using a negative adjective ("Days spent in his home left him unenthused" meaning 'he preferred to be out and about').<ref>Litotes in Old Norse, p. 1</ref>
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