Word Meanings - LITERAL - Book Publishers vocabulary database

1. According to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical; as, the literal meaning of a phrase. It hath but one simple literal sense whose light the owls can not abide. Tyndale 2. Following the letter or exact words;

Additional info about word: LITERAL

1. According to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical; as, the literal meaning of a phrase. It hath but one simple literal sense whose light the owls can not abide. Tyndale 2. Following the letter or exact words; not free. A middle course between the rigor of literal translations and the liberty of paraphrasts. Hooker. 3. Consisting of, or expressed by, letters. The literal notation of numbers was known to Europeans before the ciphers. Johnson. 4. Giving a strict or literal construction; unimaginative; matter-of fast; -- applied to persons. Literal contract , contract of which the whole evidence is given in writing. Bouvier. -- Literal equation , an equation in which known quantities are expressed either wholly or in part by means of letters; -- distinguished from a numerical equation.

Related words: (words related to LITERAL)

• WHOSESOEVER
  The possessive of whosoever. See Whosoever.
• LIGHT
  licht, OHG. lioht, Goth. liuhap, Icel. lj, L. lux light, lucere to 1. That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous. Note: Light was regarded formerly
• SENSE
  A faculty, possessed by animals, of perceiving external objects by means of impressions made upon certain organs (sensory or sense organs) of the body, or of perceiving changes in the condition of the body; as, the senses of sight, smell, hearing,
• LITERALNESS
  The quality or state of being literal; literal import.
• EXACTOR
  One who exacts or demands by authority or right; hence, an extortioner; also, one unreasonably severe in injunctions or demands. Jer. Taylor.
• EXACTING
  Oppressive or unreasonably severe in making demands or requiring the exact fulfillment of obligations; harsh; severe. "A temper so exacting." T. Arnold -- Ex*act"ing*ly, adv. -- Ex*act"ing*ness, n.
• FOLLOWING EDGE
  See ABOVE
• LIGHTSOME
  1. Having light; lighted; not dark or gloomy; bright. White walls make rooms more lightsome than black. Bacon. 2. Gay; airy; cheering; exhilarating. That lightsome affection of joy. Hooker. -- Light"some*ly, adv. -- Light"some*ness, n. Happiness
• EXACTLY
  In an exact manner; precisely according to a rule, standard, or fact; accurately; strictly; correctly; nicely. "Exactly wrought." Shak. His enemies were pleased, for he had acted exactly as their interests required. Bancroft.
• ABIDER
  1. One who abides, or continues. "Speedy goers and strong abiders." Sidney. 2. One who dwells; a resident. Speed.
• WORDSMAN
  One who deals in words, or in mere words; a verbalist. "Some speculative wordsman." H. Bushnell.
• LIGHTNESS
  The state, condition, or quality, of being light or not heavy; buoyancy; levity; fickleness; delicacy; grace. Syn. -- Levity; volatility; instability; inconstancy; unsteadiness; giddiness; flightiness; airiness; gayety; liveliness; agility;
• LIGHT-ARMED
  Armed with light weapons or accouterments.
• LITERALIST
  One who adheres to the letter or exact word; an interpreter according to the letter.
• ACCORDANCY
  Accordance. Paley.
• ACCORDANTLY
  In accordance or agreement; agreeably; conformably; -- followed by with or to.
• LITERALLY
  1. According to the primary and natural import of words; not figuratively; as, a man and his wife can not be literally one flesh. 2. With close adherence to words; word by word. So wild and ungovernable a poet can not be translated literally.
• LIGHTERAGE
  1. The price paid for conveyance of goods on a lighter. 2. The act of unloading into a lighter, or of conveying by a lighter.
• EXACTION
  1. The act of demanding with authority, and compelling to pay or yield; compulsion to give or furnish; a levying by force; a driving to compliance; as, the exaction to tribute or of obedience; hence, extortion. Take away your exactions from my
• ACCORDER
  One who accords, assents, or concedes.
• MISDEMEAN
  To behave ill; -- with a reflexive pronoun; as, to misdemean one's self.
• SLIGHTNESS
  The quality or state of being slight; slenderness; feebleness; superficiality; also, formerly, negligence; indifference; disregard.
• DEMEANURE
  Behavior. Spenser.
• INSENSE
  To make to understand; to instruct. Halliwell.
• DELIGHTING
  Giving delight; gladdening. -- De*light"ing*ly, adv. Jer. Taylor.
• BILITERALISM
  The property or state of being biliteral.
• INEXACTLY
  In a manner not exact or precise; inaccurately. R. A. Proctor.
• DRUMMOND LIGHT
  A very intense light, produced by turning two streams of gas, one oxygen and the other hydrogen, or coal gas, in a state of ignition, upon a ball of lime; or a stream of oxygen gas through a flame of alcohol upon a ball or disk of lime; -- called
• BLACK LETTER
  The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its blackness. See Type.
• INEXACT
  Not exact; not precisely correct or true; inaccurate.
• REMEANT
  Coming back; returning. "Like the remeant sun." C. Kingsley.
• ILLITERAL
  Not literal. B. Dawson.
• DELIGHTLESS
  Void of delight. Thomson.