litotes Who acts: Litotes, you, opposite, small problem, It, way · What happens: be, say, not be, mean, use, find · To what, where: kind, something, good, big problem, figure, words · Speech: someone speaks here
«litotes» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: litotes in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 Litotes is a kind of understatement where you say something by saying that its opposite is not true, like «not bad» meaning «good» or «not a small problem» meaning «a big problem».
The tree, 32 words nsubj cop det case nmod advmod nsubj parataxis obj mark advcl mark nmod:poss nsubj cop advmod ccomp punct case punct advmod conj punct advcl punct obj punct cc punct advmod det amod conj punct acl punct det amod obj punct punct root Litotes NOUN is AUX a DET kind NOUN of ADP understatement NOUN where ADV you PRON say VERB something PRON by SCONJ saying VERB that SCONJ its PRON opposite NOUN is AUX not PART true ADJ , PUNCT like ADP « PUNCT not PART bad ADJ » PUNCT meaning VERB « PUNCT good ADJ » PUNCT or CCONJ « PUNCT not PART a DET small ADJ problem NOUN » PUNCT meaning VERB « PUNCT a DET big ADJ problem NOUN » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Litotes litote NOUN Number=Plur 4 kind nsubj 2 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 4 kind cop 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 kind det 4 kind kind NOUN Number=Sing root root 5 of of ADP _ 6 understatement case 6 understatement understatement NOUN Number=Sing 4 kind nmod 7 where where ADV PronType=Rel 9 say advmod 8 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 9 say nsubj 9 say say VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 4 kind parataxis 10 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 9 say obj 11 by by SCONJ _ 12 saying mark 12 saying say VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 9 say advcl 13 that that SCONJ _ 18 true mark 14 its its PRON Case=Gen Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 15 opposite nmod:poss 15 opposite opposite NOUN Number=Sing 18 true nsubj 16 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 18 true cop 17 not not PART Polarity=Neg 18 true advmod 18 true true ADJ Degree=Pos 12 saying ccomp 19 , , PUNCT _ 23 bad punct 20 like like ADP _ 23 bad case 21 « « PUNCT _ 23 bad punct 22 not not PART Polarity=Neg 23 bad advmod 23 bad bad ADJ Degree=Pos 18 true conj 24 » » PUNCT _ 25 meaning punct 25 meaning mean VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 23 bad advcl 26 « « PUNCT _ 27 good punct 27 good good ADJ Degree=Pos 25 meaning obj 28 » » PUNCT _ 27 good punct 29 or or CCONJ _ 34 problem cc 30 « « PUNCT _ 34 problem punct 31 not not PART Polarity=Neg 34 problem advmod 32 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 34 problem det 33 small small ADJ Degree=Pos 34 problem amod 34 problem problem NOUN Number=Sing 25 meaning conj 35 » » PUNCT _ 34 problem punct 36 meaning mean VERB VerbForm=Ger 34 problem acl 37 « « PUNCT _ 40 problem punct 38 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 40 problem det 39 big big ADJ Degree=Pos 40 problem amod 40 problem problem NOUN Number=Sing 36 meaning obj 41 » » PUNCT _ 40 problem punct 42 . . PUNCT _ 4 kind punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present Litotes a kind of understatement tree rules 2 say speech: assert present you something vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic 3 say speech: assert gerund you not said here vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent 4 not is present understatement's opposite true property tree rules 5 not be in a quote understatement's opposite not said here tree rules 6 mean gerund understatement's opposite not said here good vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent good=Topic 7 mean gerund a small problem not said here a big problem vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.
Meaning 2 It is a figure of speech, a way of using words for a special effect.
The tree, 15 words nsubj cop det case nmod punct det appos mark acl obj case det amod obl punct root It PRON is AUX a DET figure NOUN of ADP speech NOUN , PUNCT a DET way NOUN of SCONJ using VERB words NOUN for ADP a DET special ADJ effect NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 It it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 4 figure nsubj 2 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 4 figure cop 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 figure det 4 figure figure NOUN Number=Sing root root 5 of of ADP _ 6 speech case 6 speech speech NOUN Number=Sing 4 figure nmod 7 , , PUNCT _ 9 way punct 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 9 way det 9 way way NOUN Number=Sing 4 figure appos 10 of of SCONJ _ 11 using mark 11 using use VERB VerbForm=Ger 9 way acl 12 words word NOUN Number=Plur 11 using obj 13 for for ADP _ 16 effect case 14 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 16 effect det 15 special special ADJ Degree=Pos 16 effect amod 16 effect effect NOUN Number=Sing 11 using obl 17 . . PUNCT _ 4 figure punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present It a figure of speech tree rules 2 use gerund a way not said here words for a special effect vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent word=Theme for effect=Eventuality
Example 1 «Not bad at all,» said Dad, which is litotes for «very good».
The tree, 12 words punct advmod ccomp case obl punct punct nsubj punct nsubj cop appos case punct advmod acl:relcl punct punct root « PUNCT Not PART bad ADJ at ADP all DET , PUNCT » PUNCT said VERB Dad PROPN , PUNCT which PRON is AUX litotes NOUN for ADP « PUNCT very ADV good ADJ » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 « « PUNCT _ 3 bad punct 2 Not not PART Polarity=Neg 3 bad advmod 3 bad bad ADJ Degree=Pos 8 said ccomp 4 at at ADP _ 5 all case 5 all all DET PronType=Tot 3 bad obl 6 , , PUNCT _ 3 bad punct 7 » » PUNCT _ 3 bad punct 8 said say VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 9 Dad Dad PROPN Number=Sing 8 said nsubj 10 , , PUNCT _ 13 litotes punct 11 which which PRON PronType=Rel 13 litotes nsubj 12 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 13 litotes cop 13 litotes litote NOUN Number=Plur 9 Dad appos 14 for for ADP _ 17 good case 15 « « PUNCT _ 17 good punct 16 very very ADV _ 17 good advmod 17 good good ADJ Degree=Pos 13 litotes acl:relcl 18 » » PUNCT _ 17 good punct 19 . . PUNCT _ 8 said punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 say speech: assert past Dad vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent 2 is a present Dad litotes tree rules
Example 2 «He's no fool» is an example of litotes.
punct nsubj cop det nsubj punct cop det case nmod punct root « PUNCT He PRON 's AUX no DET fool NOUN » PUNCT is AUX an DET example NOUN of ADP litotes NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 « « PUNCT _ 5 fool punct 2 He he PRON Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 5 fool nsubj 3 's be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 fool cop 4 no no DET PronType=Neg 5 fool det 5 fool fool NOUN Number=Sing 9 example nsubj 6 » » PUNCT _ 5 fool punct 7 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 9 example cop 8 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 9 example det 9 example example NOUN Number=Sing root root 10 of of ADP _ 11 litotes case 11 litotes litote NOUN Number=Plur 9 example nmod 12 . . PUNCT _ 9 example punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a in a quote present He no fool tree rules 2 is a present no fool a example of litotes tree rules
Example 3 Saying a hurricane is «not exactly a light breeze» uses litotes.
csubj det nsubj cop punct advmod advmod det amod ccomp punct obj punct root Saying VERB a DET hurricane NOUN is AUX « PUNCT not PART exactly ADV a DET light ADJ breeze NOUN » PUNCT uses VERB litotes NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Saying say VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 12 uses csubj 2 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 3 hurricane det 3 hurricane hurricane NOUN Number=Sing 10 breeze nsubj 4 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 breeze cop 5 « « PUNCT _ 10 breeze punct 6 not not PART Polarity=Neg 10 breeze advmod 7 exactly exactly ADV _ 10 breeze advmod 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 10 breeze det 9 light light ADJ Degree=Pos 10 breeze amod 10 breeze breeze NOUN Number=Sing 1 Saying ccomp 11 » » PUNCT _ 10 breeze punct 12 uses use VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 13 litotes litote NOUN Number=Plur 12 uses obj 14 . . PUNCT _ 12 uses punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 say speech: assert gerund vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent 2 not is a in a quote present a hurricane a light breeze exactly property tree rules 3 use present Saying litotes vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litote=Patient
Example 4 We found three examples of litotes in the poem.
nsubj nummod obj case nmod case det obl punct root We PRON found VERB three NUM examples NOUN of ADP litotes NOUN in ADP the DET poem NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 We we PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=1 PronType=Prs 2 found nsubj 2 found find VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 three three NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 4 examples nummod 4 examples example NOUN Number=Plur 2 found obj 5 of of ADP _ 6 litotes case 6 litotes litote NOUN Number=Plur 4 examples nmod 7 in in ADP _ 9 poem case 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 poem det 9 poem poem NOUN Number=Sing 2 found obl 10 . . PUNCT _ 2 found punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 find past We three examples of litotes the poem vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent example=Topic 2 exemplify litotes nom example «cognition transitive»: of=patient
Example 5 «I wasn't unhappy with my mark» means I was pleased.
punct nsubj cop advmod ccomp case nmod:poss obl punct nsubj cop ccomp punct root « PUNCT I PRON was AUX n't PART unhappy ADJ with ADP my PRON mark NOUN » PUNCT means VERB I PRON was AUX pleased ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 « « PUNCT _ 5 unhappy punct 2 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 5 unhappy nsubj 3 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 5 unhappy cop 4 n't not PART Polarity=Neg 5 unhappy advmod 5 unhappy unhappy ADJ Degree=Pos 10 means ccomp 6 with with ADP _ 8 mark case 7 my my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 8 mark nmod:poss 8 mark mark NOUN Number=Sing 5 unhappy obl 9 » » PUNCT _ 5 unhappy punct 10 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 11 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 13 pleased nsubj 12 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 13 pleased cop 13 pleased pleased ADJ Degree=Pos 10 means ccomp 14 . . PUNCT _ 10 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not is in a quote past I with my mark; unhappy property tree rules 2 mean present vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent 3 is past I pleased property tree rules 4 mark in a quote my nom mark «cognition transitive»: poss=agent
Example 6 Old English poets loved litotes, like «that was no small gift».
The tree, 11 words amod amod nsubj obj punct mark punct nsubj cop det amod obl punct punct root Old ADJ English ADJ poets NOUN loved VERB litotes NOUN , PUNCT like SCONJ « PUNCT that PRON was AUX no DET small ADJ gift NOUN » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Old old ADJ Degree=Pos 3 poets amod 2 English English ADJ Degree=Pos 3 poets amod 3 poets poet NOUN Number=Plur 4 loved nsubj 4 loved love VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 5 litotes litote NOUN Number=Plur 4 loved obj 6 , , PUNCT _ 13 gift punct 7 like like SCONJ _ 13 gift mark 8 « « PUNCT _ 13 gift punct 9 that that PRON Number=Sing PronType=Dem 13 gift nsubj 10 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 13 gift cop 11 no no DET PronType=Neg 13 gift det 12 small small ADJ Degree=Pos 13 gift amod 13 gift gift NOUN Number=Sing 4 loved obl 14 » » PUNCT _ 13 gift punct 15 . . PUNCT _ 4 loved punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 love past Old English poets litotes vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer litote=Stimulus 2 is a in a quote past that no small gift tree rules
Text: the school dictionary of Mova's schools (world/data/dictionary-schools/), written for Mova. Trees: Mova's own parse — the en model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. Frames: Mova's frames reader (prag), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.
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