The Meiosis (figure of speech) reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Meiosis (figure of speech)

Meiosis is a figure of speech which intentionally understates something or implies that it is less in significance, size, than it really is.

The hero says his wound is "only a scratch", employing meiosis. W. C. Fields enters a palatial home, glances up at the ceiling two stories above, and says "Nice teepee."

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Meiosis is also a method of cell division. See meiosis

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