English edit

Etymology edit

& +‎ clipping of literal or literally.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

&lit (plural &lits)

  1. (sometimes attributive) A cryptic crossword clue that can be interpreted in its entirety as either a definition or wordplay; for example, "God incarnate, essentially" for "Odin", a Norse god whose name is hidden in "God incarnate".
    Perfect &lits are hard to create.
    • 2006, Nikki Katz, Zen and the Art of Crossword Puzzles: A Journey Down and Across, page 63:
      &Lit: This word play means "and take it literally." In these clues, the word play and literal definition are one and the same. &Lit clues are marked with an exclamation point at the end.

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit