literalistic
/ˌlɪt(ə)ɹəˈlɪstɪk/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.05 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
5
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of or pertaining to literalism or literalists.
adj
Using a method of interpretation regarded as woodenly, inflexibly, or simplistically literal in its perceived neglect of such considerations as context, genre, and authorial intent.
Example Sentences
- "Mr. Hagee’s views flow out of his adherence to what is known in evangelical circles as premillennial dispensationalism, a literalistic approach to biblical prophecy that places a special emphasis on the role of the nation of Israel in the end of history."
- "It is most important to distinguish literalistic from literal interpretation. The former generates an unlettered, ultimately illiterate reading—one that is incapable of recognizing less obvious uses of language such as metaphor, satire, and so forth. ... Interpreters err either when they allegorize discourse that is intended to be taken literally or when they "literalize" discourse that is intended to be taken figuratively."
Etymology
From literalist + -ic.
Inflected Forms
more literalistic (comparative)
most literalistic (superlative)