literal
lit.er.al \'lit-*-r*l, 'li-tr*l\ \'lit-*r-(*-)le-, 'li-tr*-le-\
\'lit-*-r*l-n*s, 'li-tr*l-\ aj [ME, fr. MF, fr. ML litteralis, fr. L, of a
letter, fr. littera let]ter 1a: according with the letter of the scriptures
1b: adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of
a term or expression 1c: PLAIN, UNADORNED 1d: characterized by a concern
mainly with facts : PROSAIC 2: of, relating to, or expressed in letters
3: reproduced word for word : EXACT, VERBATIM - lit.er.al.ly av