The literal notation of numbers was known to Europeans before the
ciphers.
Johnson.
4. Giving a strict or literal construction; unimaginative;
matter-of-fact; -- applied to persons.
Literal contract (Law), a contract of which the whole evidence is given
in writing. Bouvier. -- Literal equation (Math.), an equation in which
known quantities are expressed either wholly or in part by means of
letters; -- distinguished from a numerical equation.
Lit"er*al, n. Literal meaning. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Lit"er*al*ism (-z'm), n. 1. That which accords with the letter; a mode
of interpreting literally; adherence to the letter.
2. (Fine Arts) The tendency or disposition to represent objects
faithfully, without abstraction, conventionalities, or idealization.
Lit"er*al*ist, n. One who adheres to the letter or exact word; an
interpreter according to the letter.
Lit`er*al"i*ty (-l"*t), n. [Cf. F. littéralité.] The state or quality
of being literal. Sir T. Browne.
Lit`er*al*i*za"tion (lt`r*al**z"shn), n. The act of literalizing;
reduction to a literal meaning.
Lit"er*al*ize (lt"r*al*z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Literalized (-zd); p.
pr. & vb. n. Literalizing (-`zng).] To make literal; to interpret or
put in practice according to the strict meaning of the words; --
opposed to spiritualize; as, to literalize Scripture.
Lit"er*al*i`zer (-`zr), n. A literalist.
Lit"er*al*ly, adv. 1. According to the primary and natural import of
words; not figuratively; as, a man and his wife can not be literally
one flesh.