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literalism

 - 2 dictionary results

lit⋅er⋅al⋅ism

  [lit-er-uh-liz-uhm]
Use literalism in a Sentence
–noun
1. adherence to the exact letter or the literal sense, as in translation or interpretation: to interpret the law with uncompromising literalism.
2. a peculiarity of expression resulting from this: The work is studded with these obtuse literalisms.
3. exact representation or portrayal, without idealization, as in art or literature: a literalism more appropriate to journalism than to the novel.
Origin:
1635–45; literal + -ism

Related forms:
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 Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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lit·er·al·ism   (lĭt'ər-ə-lĭz'əm)   
n.  

  1. Adherence to the explicit sense of a given text or doctrine.

  2. Literal portrayal; realism.

lit'er·al·ist n., lit'er·al·is'tic adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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