litotes/ˈlaɪtəuti:z; `laɪtoˌtiz/ n[U]ironical understatement,esp using a negative to emphasize the contrary 曲言（尤指用否定的词语, 强调其反义的修辞法, 如 It wasn't easy ｀此事不易＇意为It was very difficult｀此事很难＇）.
牛津英汉双解词典