Main Entry: ¹lit·er·al

Pronunciation: \ˈli-t(ə-)rəl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin litteralis, from Latin, of a letter, from littera letter

Date: 14th century

1 a : according with the letter of the scriptures b : adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression : actual <liberty in the literal sense is impossible — B. N. Cardozo> c : free from exaggeration or embellishment <the literal truth> d : characterized by a concern mainly with facts <a very literal man>
2 : of, relating to, or expressed in letters
3 : reproduced word for word : exact, verbatim <a literal translation>

— lit·er·al·i·ty \ˌli-tə-ˈra-lə-tē\ noun

— lit·er·al·ness \ˈli-t(ə-)rəl-nəs\ noun