literal Hear it!

literal definition

lit·eral (lit′ər əl)

adjective

  1. of, involving, or expressed by a letter or letters of the alphabet literal notation
  2. following or representing the exact words of the original; word-for-word a literal translation
    1. based on the actual words in their ordinary meaning; not figurative or symbolic the literal meaning of a passage
    2. giving the actual denotation of the word: said of the senses of words
    3. giving the original or earlier meaning of a word; etymological the literal meaning of ponder is “to weigh”
    1. habitually interpreting statements or words according to their actual denotation; prosaic; matter-of-fact a literal mind
    2. having a literal mind; lacking imagination
  5. real; not going beyond the actual facts; accurate; unvarnished the literal truth
  6. being so in fact but not in name; virtual the chairperson is a literal dictator

Etymology: ME litterall < MFr litteral < LL litteralis < L littera, letter

noun

Chiefly Brit. a typographical error

Related Forms:

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