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 letters3: 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

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