Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Literal(l, Litterale, Letteral, -ell, a. [ME. and e.m.E. literal (Wyclif), littéral(l (Capgrave), L. litterālis, MF. literal (F. litteral).The forms in letter- are appar. influenced by Letter n.]

1. In the interpretation of Scripture: According to the ‘letter’ or ordinary meaning of the words; literal, not allegorical, etc. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 77/5.
The litterale sense and significacioun is caus of perdicion of pepil, and the spirituale wndirstanding js [etc.] c1515 Asl. MS. I. 327/25.
And alswa the scripturis … may be wnderstand in four maner of ways, the literal sens, the allegory, the moralite & anagosite a1538 Abell 94 b.
Nane wrait apone halie writ lik him in letterell expositioun & als in moraliteis 1549 Compl. 29/32.
That passage of Esaye vald be veil considrit, ande nocht to be vndirstandin be the letteral expositione

2. Of or pertaining to ‘letters’ or scholarship. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 232.
Gif thow wil have respect to letteral exercition, thow sall find thair generall study in every science c1590 Fowler I. 116/116.
These contrare sects … Whom literall furour did conduct vnto such lasting warrs

3. Of verse: Alliterative.Cf. e.m.E. phrase ‘to hunt etc. the letter’ to practise alliteration (1579). 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 76/22.
Let all ȝour verse be literall … .By ‘literall’ I meane that the maist pairt of ȝoure lyne sall rynne vpon a letter

4. Expressed in letters, written as opposed to oral. 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 690.
[Captain Gray has returned from France with a] literall [answer to the King] 1637 Elgin Rec. I. 259.
David Dunbar … to be summonit be ane literall summonds 1650 Brechin Presb. 43.
[Three] charmers who wer appointed to be charged by a second literall summonds