adv., a. and sb. [a. med.L. verbātim, f. L. verb-um word: cf. LITERATIM.]
A. adv. 1. Word for word; in the exact words: a. With reference to a copy of a document or passage in a book, or to the report of a speech, etc.
1481. Cov. Leet Bk., 477. Stodealf … brought like writyng as is before wreton verbatim direct to þe Maire.
1503[?]. in 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. 263/2. The said patent … which is now verbatim copied in this boke in the xlviii. lef.
1557. Order of Hospitalls, F vij. And … make for him a treue and iust … Coppie thereof verbatim.
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, 9 b. Although the place … be verbatim and word for word as I alledged it, yet will he not be satisfied.
1602. Willis, Stenographie, A ij b. He that is well practized in this Art, may write Verbatim, as fast as a man can treateably speake.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 155. A Volume five times as large as is this is not able to contain them all verbatim.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 11, ¶ 4. I shall give you my Cousin’s Letter Verbatim, without altering a Syllable.
1771. Encycl. Brit., I. 620/2. Merchants are provided with a large book, in folio, into which is copied verbatim every letter of business before it be sent off.
1826. F. Reynolds, Life & Times, II. 184. It was, according to the previous directions of the great critic and editor, inserted verbatim.
1893. Forbes-Mitchell, Remin. Gt. Mutiny, 274. The following is the English version, verbatim,… word for word, and point for point, italics and all.
b. With reference to a translation.
1583. Fulke, Def. Tr. Script., i. 69. The Scriptures translated verbatim, exactly, and according to the proper vse and signification of the wordes.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., xxi. (1627), 251. The Hebrew, in most places translated verbatim, doth keepe a perfect sense.
1668. Dryden, Even. Love, Pref. Witness the speeches in the first act, translated verbatim out of Ovid.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. C ij. The Translator could do no less than Verbatim to English the aforesaid letter from the Original.
1786. trans. Beckford’s Vathek (1883), 28. The venerable personage read the characters with facility, and explained them verbatim as follows.
1815. W. H. Ireland, Scribbleomania, 124, note. A translation verbatim from the french.
c. In the phrase verbatim et literatim.
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, IV. v. We have … procured an authentick Copy; and here it follows verbatim et literatim.
1787. Hawkins, Johnson, 94, note. Mr. Newsham printed and dispersed some thousand copies verbatim et literatim of this letter.
1828. Congress. Debates, IV. 276 (Stf.). It was, verbatim et literatim, a copy of the log-book of the brig.
1900. Jrnl. Sch. Geog. (U.S.), Jan., 7. The following story is copied … from his note-book verbatim et literatim.
† 2. In so many words; exactly, precisely. Obs.
1501. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 151. That your sayd counsell may have all the estayts … wrytten verbatim in paper.
1564. Brief Exam., ****ij. Did he not appoynt temperall rites…, which he had not Verbatim expressely at his masters hands?
a. 1638. Mede, Wks. (1672), 666. That which the Spirit speaks in the Written Word, that it speaks ῤητῶς, verbatim, expresly.
† b. In exact accordance with the words. Obs.
1575. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 368. Ye said Citie could not … performe ye same verbatim.
† 3. ? By word of mouth; verbally. Obs.–1
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 13. Thinke not … That therefore I haue forg’d, or am not able Verbatim to rehearse the Methode of my Penne.
B. adj. 1. Corresponding with, or following, an original word for word.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 14/1. Which grammatically represented in a verbatim Translation of the Verse into English, will run thus.
1834. Tait’s Mag., I. 732/1. A mere simple verbatim repetition … of the romances and scandalous anecdotes.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., Pref. p. viii. Verbatim reports were taken on the former occasion.
1880. Print. Trades Jrnl., XXXI. 6. A machine for verbatim reporting, which will print phonetically.
2. transf. a. Able to take down a speech word for word (in shorthand).
1882. Daily News, 24 May, 8/5. Thoroughly experienced and efficient verbatim reporter.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 9 April, 7/2. The Major spoke so rapidly that the fastest ‘verbatim’ hands seemed to be embarrassed.
b. Of a speaker: Usually reported, or worth reporting, word for word.
1892. Pall Mall G., 7 April, 1/3. The verbatim men, the column men,… and the paragraph men. Ibid., 14 May, 1/2. So much has Lord Rosebery slipped out from the front rank of ‘verbatim’ politicians.
C. sb. A full or word-for-word report of a speech.
1898. Daily News, 14 April, 10/4. Crisp writer wanted, who can also do a verbatim. Ibid. (1899), 6 March, 8/5. Verbatims of Mr. Morley were at a discount even before he quitted the Irish Office.
Hence † Verbatimly adv. Obs.–1 = prec. A, 1.
1597. E. Tilney, in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 417. A Composition layd uppon me … rated verbatimly by certain orders sett doun by my Lord Treasorer.
