literal
lit·er·al / ˈlitərəl; ˈlitrəl/ • adj. 1. taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory: dreadful in its literal sense, full of dread. ∎ free from exaggeration or distortion: you shouldn't take this as a literal record of events. ∎ inf. absolute (used to emphasize that a strong expression is deliberately chosen to convey one's feelings): fifteen years of literal hell.2. (of a translation) representing the exact words of the original text. ∎ (of a visual representation) exactly copied; realistic as opposed to abstract or impressionistic.3. (also literal-minded) (of a person or performance) lacking imagination; prosaic.4. of, in, or expressed by a letter or the letters of the alphabet: literal mnemonics.DERIVATIVES: lit·er·al·i·ty / ˌlitəˈralətē/ lit·er·al·ize / -ˌlīz/ v. lit·er·al·ness n.
