Hypertext Webster Gateway: "meiosis"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Meiosis \Mei*o"sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to make smaller,
from ?. See {Meionite}.] (Rhet.)
Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a thing as
being less than it really is.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
meiosis
n 1: (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in
sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into
four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number
(leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)
[syn: {miosis}, {reduction division}]
2: understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when
expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary);
"saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was
very upset' is an example of litotes" [syn: {litotes}]
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