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Literal: meaning, definitions and examples

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literal

 

[ ˈlɪt(ə)rəl ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

description

taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory

Synonyms

actual, exact, verbatim.

Examples of usage

  • the literal meaning of the phrase
  • the literal translation of the text
  • she is a very literal person
Context #2 | Noun

literature

a literal adherent to a particular theory or approach

Synonyms

adherent, follower, supporter.

Examples of usage

  • he is a literal of the romantic school

Translations

Translations of the word "literal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 literal

🇮🇳 शाब्दिक

🇩🇪 wörtlich

🇮🇩 harfiah

🇺🇦 буквальний

🇵🇱 dosłowny

🇯🇵 文字通りの

🇫🇷 littéral

🇪🇸 literal

🇹🇷 kelimesi kelimesine

🇰🇷 문자 그대로의

🇸🇦 حرفي

🇨🇿 doslovný

🇸🇰 doslovný

🇨🇳 文字的

🇸🇮 dobesedni

🇮🇸 orðréttur

🇰🇿 сөзбе-сөз

🇬🇪 ლიტერალური

🇦🇿 sözün əsl mənasında

🇲🇽 literal

Etymology

The word 'literal' originated in the late 14th century from the Old French word 'literel', which means 'of or relating to letters'. Over time, it evolved to encompass the concept of taking words in their straightforward or exact sense. The term has been widely used in various contexts, including literature, language, and everyday conversation.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,344 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.