Literally

adv. [f. LITERAL + -LY².]

  † 1.  nonce-uses. a. By the letters (of a name). b. In letters or literature. Obs.

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XVI. iii. (1886), 399. One T. of Canterburie, whose name I will not litterallie discover.

1593.  R. Harvey, Philad., 7. And yet I tell you me-thinkes you are very bookishly and literally wise.

  2.  With reference to a report, translation, etc.; In the very words, word for word.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xvi. 145. Which are literally thus translated.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 521, ¶ 5. Others repeat only what they hear from others as literally as their parts or zeal will permit.

a. 1753.  R. Newton, Theophrastus’ Char. (1754), P. viii. I would … advise every Scholar … to translate his Author thus literally, word for word.

1843.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 238. Every word of this is literally as the men spoke it.

  b.  transf. With exact fidelity of representation.

1816.  Byron (title), Churchill’s Grave, a fact literally rendered.

  3.  In the literal sense.

1533.  Frith, Answ. More’s Let., C 3 b. Allthough it were literalye fulfillyd in the childern of Israell … yet was yt allso ment & verified in Christ hym sellfe.

1579.  Fulke, Heskin’s Parl., 105. They interprete literally, which the doctors did write figuratively.

1664.  H. More, Myst. Iniq., Apol., 481. All those Passages are not to be Literally understood.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. xiv. (1840), 286. This was a china warehouse indeed, truly and literally to be called so.

1783.  Hailes, Antiq. Chr. Ch., iv. 78, note. It may be doubted, whether this was ever literally true.

1876.  E. Mellor, Priesthood, iv. 161. Literally speaking, ‘this cup’ could never be ‘a new covenant.’

1895.  Sir A. Kekewich, in Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 663/1. It is found that the Act does not mean literally what it says.

  b.  Used to indicate that the following word or phrase must be taken in its literal sense.

  Now often improperly used to indicate that some conventional metaphorical or hyperbolical phrase is to be taken in the strongest admissible sense. (So, e.g., in quot. 1863.)

1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., III. 107. My daily bread is litt’rally implor’d.

1708.  Pope, Lett. to H. Cromwell, 18 March. Euery day with me is literally another yesterday for it is exactly the same.

1761–2.  Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), V. lxxi. 341. He had the singular fate of dying literally of hunger.

1769.  Junius Lett., xxx. 137. What punishment has he suffered? Literally none.

1839.  Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), III. vii. 100. At the last I was incapable of correcting the proofs, literally fainting on the ground.

1863.  Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia, 105. For the last four years … I literally coined money.

1887.  I. R., Lady’s Ranche Life Montana, 76. The air is literally scented with them all.