literalness
|lit-er-al-ness|
C1
/ˈlɪtərəlˌnɛs/
(literal)
exactly as stated
Etymology
Etymology Information
'literalness' originates from the Latin word 'litteralis,' where 'littera' meant 'letter.'
Historical Evolution
'litteralis' transformed into the Old French word 'literal,' and eventually became the modern English word 'literalness.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'pertaining to letters,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'adherence to explicit meaning.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being literal; adherence to the explicit meaning of words or texts.
The literalness of his interpretation left no room for metaphor.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/13 19:46