Skip to main content
literality

literality

7.9
A way of understanding words exactly without looking for hidden meaning
  • noun
  • /ˌlɪtəˈrælɪti/
translation icon : literalidad
  • His strict adherence to literality made his translations both precise and sometimes lacking in poetic flair.

It's not so simple construction as I described this literality with all the stuff.

Examples

  • The teacher emphasized the importance of literality when interpreting the poem for comprehension.

  • The debate about the literality of the text highlights how different interpretations can arise from the same language.

  • I know literality and analogy can be a little confusing for the Real Christians.

    Blog text (19)
  • In his pursuit of literality and objective poetry, the model of maps and the figure of mapmakers appear time and time again.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

literalism
vsliterality
2 7.4

A habit of understanding words in their simple direct meaning rather than a deeper meaning

is broader naming the general quality of truth to words and facts
exactitude
vsliterality
  • Formal
2 8.4

Careful attention to small details that makes things correct

values being true to meanings and facts more than intense precision
exactness
vsliterality
2 4.1

A state of being accurate and free from mistakes

focuses on faithfulness to word meaning rather than general accuracy
literalness
vsliterality
1 6.9

A way of taking words or actions exactly as they are without using imagination

is about being true to words and facts rather than only plain wording
preciseness
vsliterality
4.6

Being exact and clear about small details

emphasizes truth to actual wording rather than just clear definition

Antonyms

9 6.4

Using words in a non-literal way to create images

How Literal

literality
7.9

Surface Forms

literality singular
literality plural

Morphology

literality = literal (transparent) = literal + ity

Standard nominalization of the adjective 'literal' with '-ity' yields 'the quality of being literal', which is directly derivable.

Etymology

Literality comes from literal, which comes from the Latin word littera meaning 'letter'. Think of the phrase 'to the letter', which means to follow the exact words, so literality is the quality of being exact and true to the words.