Old English

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Etymology

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From stæf (letter) +‎ -līċ.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈstæf.liːt͡ʃ/, [ˈstæv.liːt͡ʃ]

Adjective

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stæflīċ

  1. literal
    Sēo stæflīċe āwendednes ānes wordes ne biþ simle sēo betste.
    The literal translation of a word is not always the best one.
    • late 10th century, Ælfric, "The Second Sunday in Lent"
      Wē understandaþ þæt gāstlīċe andġiet hāliġra ġewrita, and þā Iudēiscan rǣdaþ þā stæflīcan ġereċednesse būtan andġiete.
      We understand the spiritual meaning of the Bible, and the Jews read the literal narrative without the meaning.
  2. (grammar) of or pertaining to letters
  3. literate, literary

Declension

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Antonyms

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