38324
> 彼の性格が読めてきたような気がしないでもなかった

しない is a negative conjugation of する

And from what I understand でもなかった is the equivalent of "was not"

So it's a double denial? How does this work?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-07T19:33:30.870
38287
2017-07-18T00:54:29.870
2017-07-18T00:54:29.870
9831
16352
question
grammar meaning negation
The meaning of しないでもなかった
Yes, しないでもない (≒しなくもない） is a double-negative construction, which can be seen as
a set phrase used to say something less confidently, or to reluctantly admit
something.

> 彼の性格が読めてきたような気がしないでもなかった  
>  (lit.) It was not that I didn't feel I came to be able to read his
> character.  
>  I feel I have gradually learnt how to understand his character.

Similar examples:

>   * 失敗だったと言えなくもない。 ≒ 失敗だったと言えないでもない。  
>  (lit.) It is not that one cannot say it was a failure.  
>  One could argue that it was a failure.
>   * 100万円はなくもない。 ≒ 100万円はないでもない。  
>  (lit.) It is not that I don't have one million yen.  
>  (Admittedly,) I have one million yen.
>
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-09T00:48:10.533
38324
2016-08-09T05:58:43.110
2016-08-09T05:58:43.110
5010
5010
38287
answer