literality

[ lit-uh-ral-i-tee ]

noun,plural lit·er·al·i·ties.
  1. the quality or state of being literal; literalness.

  2. a literal interpretation.

Origin of literality

1
First recorded in 1640–50; literal + -ity

Words Nearby literality

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use literality in a sentence

  • The threatenings of God's word are invested with a mantle of terrible literality by the facts we have been contemplating.

    Gospel Philosophy | J. H. Ward
  • "Not a word," said Colville, glad of getting back to the firm truth again, even if it were mere literality.

    Indian Summer | William D. Howells
  • I shall not attempt to describe it more than I have already done, for the most absorbing wonder of it was its literality.

  • But it cannot be unwise to accept in simple literality utterances of Scripture, however they may seem to strike us as strange.

    Expositions of Holy Scripture | Alexander Maclaren
  • The threatenings of God's Word are invested with a mantle of terrible literality by the facts we have been contemplating.