A.Word.A.Day		About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us

Home Today's Word Yesterday's Word Archives FAQ

A.Word.A.Day--literally Do you wish to receive A.Word.A.Day in your mailbox every day? Subscribe here. Pronunciation: WAV or RealAudio literally (LIT-uhr-uh-lee) adverb 1. In a literal manner; word for word. 2. In a literal or strict sense. 3. (Usage Problem) Really; actually. "Perfide Angleterre. 1786, French aristocrat Count Honore de Mirabeau: English generosity! They calculate everything, even talent and friendship; most of their writers have almost literally died of starvation." The English, The Economist, 31 Dec 1999. "Sadada Jackson: It took me literally two months just to get around the corner from my house." Jay Schadler, et al., Don't Panic, ABC 20/20, 24 Feb 1999. This week's theme: words often used in a sense different from their established definitions. X-Bonus A time will come when a politician who has wilfully made war and promoted international dissension will be as sure of the dock and much surer of the noose than a private homicide. It is not reasonable that those who gamble with men's lives should not stake their own. -H.G. Wells, British Writer [The Salvaging of Civilization] (1866-1946)

Sign-up:   Subscribe   Gift Subscription   Address Change   Unsubscribe