literal

Meaning

Adj

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.
2. Actual, real, physical.
3. (broadly) That which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given text is correct but which allows for metaphor where context indicates it.
4. (specifically) Following the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation.
5. (uncommon) Consisting of, or expressed by, letters (of an alphabet); using literation.
6. Unimaginative; matter-of-fact; literal-minded.
7. (proscribed) Used nonliterally as an intensifier. See literally for usage notes.
8. (alt-of, misspelling) Misspelling of littoral.

Noun

1. A misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter.
2. A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
3. A propositional variable, or the negation of a propositional variable. ᵂᵖ
4. (alt-of, misspelling) Misspelling of littoral.

Synonyms

verbatim

actual

real

genuine

verbal

misprint

word for word

literal error

erratum

in letters

textual

typo

typographical error

exact

pure

reliable

semantic

semiotic

servile

sheer

slavish

stark

sterile

substantial

substantive

sure-enough

tangible

true

true to life

truthful

unadulterated

unimaginative

uninspired

uninventive

veridical

word-for-word

llinguistic

not figurative

virtual

bare

bona fide

connotative

denotative

earthbound

effective

explicit

honest-to-god

honest-to-goodness

main

naked

Translations

littéral

letterale

literal

wörtlich

literal

letterlijk

woordelijk

κυριολεκτικός

حرفي

buchstäblich

literal

textual

alla lettera

κατά γράμμα

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: literal

In summary

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.

Sentences

The literal translation of the French title is Wasp's Nest .