LIT'ERAL, adjective [Latin litera, a letter.]
1. According to the letter; primitive; real; not figurative or metaphorical; as the literal meaning of a phrase.
2. Following the letter or exact words; not free; as a literal translation.
3. Consisting of letters.
The literal notation of numbers was known to Europeans before the ciphers.
LIT'ERAL, nounliteral meaning. [Not used.]