Literal \Lit"er*al\ (l[i^]t"[~e]r*al), a. [F. lit['e]ral,
   litt['e]ral, L. litteralis, literalis, fr. littera, litera, a
   letter. See Letter.]
   1. According to the letter or verbal expression; real; not
      figurative or metaphorical; as, the literal meaning of a
      phrase.
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            It hath but one simple literal sense whose light the
            owls can not abide.                   --Tyndale.
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   2. Following the letter or exact words; not free.
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            A middle course between the rigor of literal
            translations and the liberty of paraphrasts.
                                                  --Hooker.
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   3. Consisting of, or expressed by, letters.
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            The literal notation of numbers was known to
            Europeans before the ciphers.         --Johnson.
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   4. Giving a strict or literal construction; unimaginative;
      matter-of-fact; -- applied to persons.
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   Literal contract (Law), a contract of which the whole
      evidence is given in writing. --Bouvier.

   Literal equation (Math.), an equation in which known
      quantities are expressed either wholly or in part by means
      of letters; -- distinguished from a numerical equation.
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LITERAL CONTRACT, civil law. A contract, the whole of the evidence of which 
is reduced to writing. This contract is perfected by the writing, and binds 
the party who subscribed it, although he has received no consideration. Leg. 
Elem. Sec. 887.