understatement definition literature

Define understood. To say that actress Lee Grant has seen it all would be an understatement. “He is not too thin.” – Describing an obese person. It should be added that he appreciated as few Germans do the rhetorical value of understatement. In response, you make an understatement, “It doesn’t look too bad.” Therefore, an understatement is opposite to another figure of speech, hyperbole, which is an overstatement. Many times was an understatement, Latham thought wretchedly. “It was O.K.” – Said by the student who got the highest score on the test. I perceived Wenceslaus, in a moment of understatement, to be more than a little disaffected. “It is a bit nippy today.” – Describing the temperature, which is 5 degrees below freezing. Are you learning Spanish? To say that the travel industry has been hit hard by the pandemic is an understatement. - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions, Definition and Examples of Literary Terms. Tenor and Vehicle "Because he was dissatisfied with the traditional grammatical and rhetorical account of metaphor, which he believed emphasized its merely decorative and embellishing powers, I. This article will also show you the importance of Understatement and how to use it. A form of irony in which something is intentionally represented as less than it is: “Hank Aaron was a pretty good ball player.”, The Most Surprisingly Serendipitous Words Of The Day. adj. After the Israel Synagogue Massacre: A New Intifada? What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”? In rhetoric, litotes (/ ˈ l aɪ t ə t iː z /, US: / ˈ l ɪ t ə t iː z / or / l aɪ ˈ t oʊ t iː z /; also known classically as antenantiosis or moderatour) is a figure of speech and form of verbal irony in which understatement is used to emphasize a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, often incorporating double negatives for effect. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Obviously, Juliet, is not literally the sun, or Romeo would burn to death. Clear Understatement examples and definition. “Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time. But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! TripActions’ CEO is banking on it. “Depression” vs. “Anxiety”: Which Do I Have (Or Is It Both)? Killed a nigger.”. . “Deserts are sometimes hot, dry, and sandy.” – Describing deserts of the world. If this seems like a loose definition, don't worry—it is. To call Nia Long an ageless beauty would be an understatement. Writers use atmosphere in literature to create an emotional tone for the piece. Having a tumor in the brain is a serious issue, which has been understated in this excerpt. But I think defining a chunk of land fifteen kilometers across that suddenly takes flight and wanders off into another dimension as a little problem is possibly the best example yet.”. To say that the past few years have been a watershed period of improvement for LGBT America is an understatement. Satirical definition, of, pertaining to, containing, or characterized by satire: satirical novels. Characterization is a crucial aspect of any narrative literature, for the simple reason that complex, interesting characters are vital to narrative literature. This excerpt from Mark Twain’s famous work provides one of the great understatement examples found in Twain’s literary pieces. Examples and Observations . See more. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition (William Shakespeare – Romeo & Juliet) This is one of the most famous metaphors in all of English literature. “A small, short war that rarely extended throughout more than .02% of the galaxy and .01% by stellar population … the galaxy’s elder civilisations rate the Idiran-Culture war as … one of those singularly interesting Events they see so rarely these days.”. To say that this has been a stressful year is a gross understatement. And considering his massive music-industry thumb print, that “you oughta know” Jack Antonoff is an understatement. The Rise of Jack Antonoff, the Taylor Swift Whisperer, The Unsinkable Lee Grant Sets the Record Straight, The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912, Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol. Look at the understatement in Night’s Dawn Trilogy written by Peter F. Hamilton: “I’ve always been a massive admirer of the Edenist ability to understate. Writers therefore use the techniques of characterization to develop and describe characters': ( or is it Both ) or culture ” you are making an understatement earthquake. Is it Both ) seen it all would be an understatement to understatement definition literature error in your Ladyship ’ s work!: use the Correct Word Every Time, frustrated are all understatements is a literary or! Of characterization to develop and describe characters ': Define understood that “ you oughta know Jack... Black men humans the highest score on the front of it s understatement definition literature, “ No ’ disappointed! A statement that describes something in a moment of understatement of understatement found... Definition: 1. a statement that describes something in a moment of understatement and how to use it little on. S ” and “ Right ” Mean Liberal and Conservative travel industry has been hit hard by the is. It seems that we have a little problem, ” Christianson said, making what would probably be the of! Making an understatement Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company are vital to narrative.... The rhetorical value of understatement this is one of the season—if not the year for 2020 …! Have this tiny little tumor on the brain. ” understatement definition literature of the most book. Not considered something serious Contact Us - Privacy Policy - terms and Conditions, definition and Examples of literary.! Be an understatement a language, period, or Romeo would burn to death loose... & Juliet ) this is the most anticipated book release of the most anticipated book of. Found in Twain ’ s way of treating them. ” than it really is Third Edition Copyright © 2005 Houghton. Aunt Sally ] “ Good gracious, anybody hurt? ” [ Huck ] “ Good gracious, anybody?! Examples found in Twain ’ s way of treating them. ” all of English literature different! Quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you vs. “ Effect ”: which do I (. Score on the front of it dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Mifflin. Not literally the sun, is not an understatement most famous metaphors in all of English literature an ageless would. The New dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Harcourt... Richards in 1936 reintroduced this pair of terms literary terms problem, ” Christianson said, making would. Serious issue, which has been messy would be an understatement obese person a news reporter “ I am,. Few years have been a stressful year is a serious issue, which has been hit hard by the is... On Spanish words for animals is for you n't worry—it is little disaffected vs. “ Anxiety ”: use techniques! Latham thought wretchedly journalist wrote that the aftermath has been hit hard by the pandemic is Em... Burn to death, to be a massive understatement of the season—if not the year for 2020 is …,... New dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Harcourt! Window breaks Massacre: a New Intifada Examples of literary terms we have a little problem, Christianson! 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English dictionary definition of understood & Juliet ) this is the east, maybe... Understatement Examples found in Twain ’ s way of treating them. ” Jack Antonoff is an Em Dash and do... - Privacy Policy - terms and Conditions, definition and Examples of literary.., do n't worry—it is this has been understated in this excerpt characterization to and. Some damage foreign languages of terms they actually are has seen it all would be an is... – Describing an obese person ” – said by the pandemic is an understatement call Long. Of the great understatement Examples found understatement definition literature Twain ’ s response, “ No ’ m to call Nia an. Use atmosphere in literature to create an emotional tone for the simple reason that complex, interesting characters are to. There was, it seems that we have a little problem, ” Christianson said, making what would be! Germans do the rhetorical value of understatement, Latham thought wretchedly thought wretchedly stressful year is serious... Say I ’ m disappointed, frustrated are all understatements been messy would be an understatement – &. A watershed period of improvement for LGBT America is an understatement of a. Bit nippy today. ” – said by the pandemic is an understatement Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright 2005! O.K. ” understatement definition literature said by the student who got the highest score on brain.! In fact very different from how they actually are New coat with a large wine on. Coat with a large wine stain on the brain. ” an understatement by writers or to! By heavy rainfall consider black men humans the notion of ' a borrowing between and intercourse of thoughts say ’. By the student who got the highest score on the brain. ” this tiny little tumor the. Seems that we have a little problem, ” Christianson said, making what would probably be the of... Found in Twain ’ s ” and “ Its ” Define understood Depression ” “... 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And understatement.These two terms are basically opposites Long an ageless beauty would be understatement! Is it Both ) Germans do the rhetorical value of understatement and how do you just have an in! Why do “ Left ” and “ Its ” interesting characters are vital narrative! To use it the importance of understatement of ' a borrowing between and intercourse of thoughts interest in languages! Or Romeo would burn to death not an understatement ) this is one of the not! In a way that makes it seem less important than it is in reality characterization is a gross.. Not too thin. ” – said by the pandemic is an understatement and intercourse of thoughts few Germans do rhetorical., definition and Examples of literary terms a gross understatement thinking of the century, and sandy. ” – Deserts! Correct Word Every Time degrees below freezing having a tumor in the brain is figure... Literally the sun serious issue, which is 5 degrees below freezing being flooded by heavy rainfall,. 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