Meiosis (figure of speech)

This article is about the figure of speech. For the type of cell division, see 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.[1][2][3] The term is derived from the Greek μειόω ("to make smaller", "to diminish"). The satirical technique diminution often involves meiosis.[4]

  1. ^ Encarta World English Dictionary (1999)
  2. ^ The Times English Dictionary (2000)
  3. ^ OED 1st edition
  4. ^ Covici, Jr., Pascal (24 October 2017). Sloane, David E. E. (ed.). "From the Old Southwest". Mark Twain's Humor: Critical Essays. Retrieved 23 March 2023.