In modern English, there are some words which have been back-formed relatively recently

It is not unwise to take precautions. (Это не неразумно принимать меры предосторожности) The cooperative listener will reason as follows: The translator may render it into (not not wise) to take precautions. This is equivalent to saying that it is wise to take precautions. Accordingly, the use of longer, marked expressions in lieu a shorter expression involving less effort on the part of speaker tends to signal that the speaker was not in a position to employ the simpler version felicitously.

Litotes is a particular form of understatement, is generated by denying the opposite or contrary of the word which otherwise could be used. Depending on the context of the usage, litotes either retains the effect of understatement, or becomes an intensifying expression, as in:

• Litotes is a particular form of understatement, is generated by denying the opposite or contrary of the word which otherwise could be used. Depending on the context of the usage, litotes either retains the effect of understatement, or becomes an intensifying expression, as in:
• 5) Heat waves are common in the summer.(Летом часто бывают волны тепла)
• 6) Heat waves are not rare in the summer.(Летом волны тепла-не редкость)
• In (6), litotes is used to make a modest assertion by using (not rare).We can say that litotes is a stylistic device, while understatement is a rhetorical device.

I.R. Galperin defines litotes as a stylistic means based on the special use of negative constructions. Denial in combination with a noun or adjective denotes a positive quality of a person or thing. However, the indicated positive quality has a somewhat diminished degree in comparison with a synonymous expression without the use of negative constructions.

• I.R. Galperin defines litotes as a stylistic means based on the special use of negative constructions. Denial in combination with a noun or adjective denotes a positive quality of a person or thing. However, the indicated positive quality has a somewhat diminished degree in comparison with a synonymous expression without the use of negative constructions.