English Meaning & Definitions
The primary, exact, or factual meaning of a word or expression, excluding any metaphorical, figurative, or ironic interpretations.
- “In the literal sense, the phrase 'break a leg' would be a terrible thing to wish upon a performer.”
- “He took her comment in the literal sense, failing to realize she was being sarcastic.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “literal sense”.
Derived from the Latin 'litteralis', meaning 'pertaining to letters', which stems from 'littera' (letter of the alphabet). Historically, it referred to the primary, exact meaning of a text as written, distinguishing it from allegorical or metaphorical interpretations.
Think of 'literal' as 'letter-al'—the meaning is exactly what the letters on the page say, nothing more, nothing less.
Frequently Asked Questions About “literal sense”
1. What is the meaning of “literal sense” in English?
In English, literal sense (noun) is defined as: “The primary, exact, or factual meaning of a word or expression, excluding any metaphorical, figurative, or ironic interpretations.”.
2. How do you use “literal sense” in a sentence?
“In the literal sense, the phrase 'break a leg' would be a terrible thing to wish upon a performer.”
3. What are English synonyms of “literal sense”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “literal sense”?
Derived from the Latin 'litteralis', meaning 'pertaining to letters', which stems from 'littera' (letter of the alphabet). Historically, it referred to the primary, exact meaning of a text as written, distinguishing it from allegorical or metaphorical interpretations.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.