— literalist , n. — literalistic , adj. — literalistically , adv.
/lit"euhr euh liz'euhm/ , n.
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.
[ 1635-45; LITERAL + -ISM ]