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.
权威例句
1. A literal translation of the name Tapies is "walls."
Tapies这个名字直译过来是“墙”。
2. The literal meaning of the word " cat " is an animal.
“ 猫 ” 一词的本义是动物.
3. This word should not be taken in its literal sense.
这个词不能按本义去理解.
4. He made a literal interpretation.
他逐字解释.
5. The emergency signal SOS has no literal meaning.
呼救信号SOS在字面上没有任何意义.
词语辨析
【literary, literal】
literary: 有文化的(反义词是illiterate),如:people applying for the job should be computer literate.(申请这份工作的人应会使用电脑。)
literal: 文字上的,字面的。如:a literal interpretation of a passage(对一段文章的字面解释)