Literal
/ˈlɪtərəl/noun
Taking words in their ordinary, exact sense; not figurative or symbolic.
Did you know?The word comes through Latin from a root tied to letters and writing, which is why “literal” originally meant something closer to “of letters” than “not metaphorical.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leǵ-
“to gather, collect; by extension, to pick out or speak”
Latin
Latin
littera
“a letter of the alphabet; writing; a written character”
Late Latin
Latin
litterālis
“of or belonging to letters; written, textual”
Old French
Old French
literal
“literal, according to the letter”
Middle English
English
literal
“pertaining to letters or writing; exact in wording”
Modern English
English
literal
“taking words in their ordinary, exact sense”
Explore more surprising origins