literalism
adherence to the exact letter or the literal sense, as in translation or interpretation: to interpret the law with uncompromising literalism.
a peculiarity of expression resulting from this: The work is studded with these obtuse literalisms.
exact representation or portrayal, without idealization, as in art or literature: a literalism more appropriate to journalism than to the novel.
Origin of literalism
1Other words from literalism
- lit·er·al·ist, noun
- lit·er·al·is·tic, adjective
- lit·er·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use literalism in a sentence
He freed the doctrine of his master from its literalistic mysticism, and presented it in a more perfected and systematised form.
The Development of Metaphysics in Persia | Muhammad Iqbal
British Dictionary definitions for literalism
/ (ˈlɪtərəˌlɪzəm) /
the disposition to take words and statements in their literal sense
literal or realistic portrayal in art or literature
Derived forms of literalism
- literalist, noun
- literalistic, adjective
- literalistically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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