literal

comparative more literal · superlative most literal · alternative abbreviation lit. · alternative obsolete litteral

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.

   A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.

   3 more examples

   The literal translation of Spanish irse al otro barrio is "to go to the other neighbourhood" but it means "to die".

   a middle course between the rigour of literal translations and the liberty of paraphrasts

   [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page)

   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.

   1989, “Preface to the New Revised Standard Version”, in Bible Research

   Synonyms: verbatim, word-for-word

2. Actual, real, physical.

   1 more example

   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.

   2017 January 12, Jesse Hassenger, “A literal monster truck is far from the stupidest thing about Monster Trucks”, in The Onion AV Club

3. broadlyhermeneuticsThat which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given text is correct but which allows for metaphor where context indicates it.
4. specificallyhermeneuticslifestyleFollowing the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation.

   1 more example

   It is most important to distinguish literalistic from literal interpretation. [...] ‘Literalistic’ interpretation is like word-for-word translation that yields the verbally exact or ‘formally equivalent’ versions but also runs the risk of overlooking the main (illocutionary) point. Literal interpretation, on the other hand, is more like a translation that strives for dynamic equivalence and yields the literary sense.

   1998, Kevin Vanhoozer, “6. Redeeming the Text: The Rationality of Literary Acts”, in Is There a Meaning in This Text?, page 311

5. uncommonConsisting of, or expressed by, letters (of an alphabet); using literation.

   a literal equation

6. Unimaginative; matter-of-fact; literal-minded.
7. proscribedUsed nonliterally as an intensifier. See literally for usage notes.

   Telemarketers are the literal worst.

8. misspellingMisspelling of littoral.

plural literals · alternative abbreviation lit. · alternative obsolete litteral

1. epigraphyA misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter.

   Synonyms: typo

2. human sciencesAn atomic formula (consisting of a propositional variable) or its negation.
3. computingA value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.

   Synonyms: literal constant

4. misspellingMisspelling of littoral.