from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Literal \Lit"er*al\ (l[i^]t"[~e]r*al), a. [F. lit['e]ral,
litt['e]ral, L. litteralis, literalis, fr. littera, litera, a
letter. See {Letter}.]
1. According to the letter or verbal expression; real; not
figurative or metaphorical; as, the literal meaning of a
phrase.
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It hath but one simple literal sense whose light the
owls can not abide. --Tyndale.
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2. Following the letter or exact words; not free.
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A middle course between the rigor of literal
translations and the liberty of paraphrasts.
--Hooker.
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3. Consisting of, or expressed by, letters.
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The literal notation of numbers was known to
Europeans before the ciphers. --Johnson.
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4. Giving a strict or literal construction; unimaginative;
matter-of-fact; -- applied to persons.
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{Literal contract} (Law), a contract of which the whole
evidence is given in writing. --Bouvier.
{Literal equation} (Math.), an equation in which known
quantities are expressed either wholly or in part by means
of letters; -- distinguished from a {numerical equation}.
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