Search the Dictionary

, a form of the imp. & p. p. of Light.

ter. Supplications . . . for the appeasing of God's wrath were of the Greek church termed litanies, and rogations of the Latin. Hooker.

Litharge. [Obs.] Chaucer.

The fruit of a tree native to China (Nephelium Litchi). It is nutlike, having a rough but tender shell, containing an aromatic pulp, and a single large seed. In the dried fruit which is exported the pulp somewhat resembles a raisin in color and form. [Written also lichi, and lychee.] -- lite. See -lith.…

Little. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A measure of capacity in the metric system, being a cubic decimeter, equal to 61.022 cubic inches, or 2.113 American pints, or 1.76 English pints.

State of being literate.

cording to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical; as, the literal meaning of a phrase. It hath but one simple literal sense whose light the owls can not abide. Tyndale .

That which accords with the letter; a mode of interpreting literally; adherence to the letter.

One who adheres to the letter or exact word; an interpreter according to the letter.

The state or quality of being literal. Sir T. Browne.

The act of literalizing; reduction to a literal meaning.

To make literal; to interpret or put in practice according to the strict meaning of the words; -- opposed to spiritualize; as, to literalize Scripture.

A literalist.

primary and natural import of words; not figuratively; as, a man and his wife can not be literally one flesh.

The quality or state of being literal; literal import.

Of or pertaining to letters or literature; pertaining to learning or learned men; as, literary fame; a literary history; literary conversation. He has long outlived his century, the term commonly fixed as the test of literary merit. Johnson.

Instructed in learning, science, or literature; learned; lettered. The literate now chose their emperor, as the military chose theirs. Landor.

Learned or literary men. See Literatus. Shakespearean commentators, and other literati. Craik.

Letter for letter.