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Literal vs Literalness - What's the difference?

literal | literalness |

As nouns the difference between literal and literalness

is that literal is (programming) a value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program while literalness is the property of being literal.

As an adjective literal

is exactly as stated; read or understood without additional interpretation; according to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical.

literal

Alternative forms

* litteral (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Exactly as stated; read or understood without additional interpretation; according to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical.
  • The literal translation is “hands full of bananas” but it means empty-handed.
  • * Hooker
  • a middle course between the rigour of literal translation and the liberty of paraphrasts
  • Following the letter or exact words; not free; not taking liberties.
  • A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.
  • (uncommon) Consisting of, or expressed by, letters.
  • a literal equation
  • * Johnson
  • The literal notation of numbers was known to Europeans before the ciphers.
  • (of a person) Giving a strict or literal construction; unimaginative; matter-of-fact.
  • Antonyms

    * (exactly as stated) figurative

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (programming) A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
  • (logic) A propositional variable or the negation of a propositional variable.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resolution_%28logic%29]
  • See also

    * constant * prime formula

    Anagrams

    * ----

    literalness

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • The property of being literal.