late 14c., "taking words in their natural meaning" (originally in reference to Scripture and opposed to mystical or allegorical), from Old French literal and directly from Late Latin literalis/litteralis "of or belonging to letters or writing," from Latin litera/littera "letter, alphabetic sign; literature, books" (see letter (n.1)). Meaning "of or pertaining to alphabetic letters" is from late 15c. Sense of "verbally exact" is attested from 1590s, as is application to the primary sense of a word or passage. Literal-minded is attested from 1791.
雙語例句
1. A literal translation of the name Tapies is "walls."
Tapies這個(gè)名字直譯過來是“墻”。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The literal meaning of the word " cat " is an animal.
“ 貓 ” 一詞的本義是動(dòng)物.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
3. This word should not be taken in its literal sense.
這個(gè)詞不能按本義去理解.
來自《現(xiàn)代漢英綜合大詞典》
4. He made a literal interpretation.
他逐字解釋.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
5. The emergency signal SOS has no literal meaning.