Dictionary

literalize en · VERB

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH-der. Old Latin leitera Latin līterader.? Proto-Hellenic *dipʰtʰérā? Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā)bor. Etruscan [Term?]bor.? Latin littera Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Late Latin litterālisbor. Old French literalbor. Middle English literal English literal Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English literalize From literal + -ize.

Meanings

1. To make literal or prosaic
   • The popular "peephole" style of cover art, suggesting stolen glimpses into exotic interior territories at once psychological and geographical, literalized the voyeuristic appeal of early postwar paperback art. 2001, Susan Stryker, Queer Pulp, page 7:
   • The band seemed at the start to literalize a mysterious piece of writing; its structure was clear when this band played it. 2009 January 15, Ben Ratliff, “Club Jazz That Travels a Line Between Old Fashions and New Tastes”, in New York Times:

Forms

Deriveds

literalizer · literalization