literal
adjectivenounattested in dialogue
- //ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəl//
Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter; not figurative or metaphorical; following the letter or exact words; not taking liberties; etymonic rather than idiomatic.
adjective
- 1
Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter; not figurative or metaphorical; following the letter or exact words; not taking liberties; etymonic rather than idiomatic.
The literal translation of Spanish irse al otro barrio is "to go to the other neighbourhood" but it means "to die".
A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.
a middle course between the rigour of literal translations and the liberty of paraphrasts
Within the constraints set by the original texts and by the mandates of the Division, the Committee has followed the maxim, 'As literal as possible, as free as necessary.' As a consequence, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) remains essentially a literal translation.
- 2
Actual, real, physical.
Mechanically, operating this hybrid vehicle is sort of a cross between driving a car and taming an animal, which means the movie treats the audience to the sight of a man (pretending to be a teenager) driving a literal monster truck in a field next to a woman (also pretending to be a teenager) riding a horse.
- 3
That which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given text is correct but which allows for metaphor where context indicates it.
- 4
Following the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation.
- 5
Consisting of, or expressed by, letters (of an alphabet); using literation.
a literal equation
- 6
Unimaginative; matter-of-fact; literal-minded.
- 7
Used nonliterally as an intensifier. See literally for usage notes.
Telemarketers are the literal worst.
- 8
Variant of littoralMisspelling of littoral.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH-der. Old Latin leitera Latin līterader.? Proto-Hellenic *dipʰtʰérā? Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā)bor. Etruscan [Term?]bor.? Latin littera Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Late Latin litterālisbor. Old French literalbor. Middle English literal English literal From Middle English literal, from Old French literal, from Late Latin litteralis or literalis (“of or pertaining to letters or to writing”), from Latin littera or litera (“a letter”). See letter.
noun
- 1
A misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter.
- 2
An atomic formula (consisting of a propositional variable) or its negation.
- 3
A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
- 4
Variant of littoralMisspelling of littoral.
Forms
- plural
- literals
- comparative
- more literal
- superlative
- most literal
literal · Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter; not figurative or metaphorical; following the letter or exact…
literally · In a literal manner; exactly as stated, word for word.…literary · Relating to literature.literature · The body of all written works.