There is not even a plot to loosen our language's morals and corrupt it a bit. There is no plot by dictionary-makers to destroy our language. Literally every modern dictionary includes a definition for the metaphoric or intensifying sense of the word literally. (intensifier) ⇒ there were literally thousands of people The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th edition, 2016 Used as an intensive before a figurative expression. Let’s look at how some other current dictionaries define this word. 2011Īaargh! That doesn’t seem very literal at all! The dark forces of "figurative-literalism" must have gotten to them, perhaps by blackmailing the editors. Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd edition, Sept. conventional) metaphorical or hyperbolical expression is to be taken in the strongest admissible sense: "virtually, as good as" (also) "completely, utterly, absolutely." colloq. Used to indicate that some (freq. It's fine to trust the OED, but you might want to check their definition first: Our poor language, I’m figuratively about to hurl.Īgreed! How you you agree to accept (I’m looking at you craven dictionary editors!) a word that means the exact opposite? It’s unfathomably stupid. These people comment on other forums, as in this sample taken from a comment thread on :Ĭonsidering that Merriam-Webster has redefined “literally” to mean “figuratively,” I’m going with literally. Some people choose not to leave such comments on our site (perhaps they do not wish to hurt our feelings), but still want to make their displeasure clear. This is literally the stupidest thing I've ever read. Here are a few of the comments left at this entry:ĭefinition 2: the dictionary is literally wrong. Some of our readers are not happy about this. We define literally in two senses:ġ) in a literal sense or manner : actually The figurative use of 'literally' may be annoying, but it is nothing new.īut the fact that Charles Dickens used literally in a figurative sense ("'Lift him out,' said Squeers, after he had literally feasted his eyes, in silence, upon the culprit") doesn't stop readers from complaining about our definition. "I literally blazed with wit." William Makepeace Thackeray, Punch, 30 Oct.
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