[f. LITERAL + -NESS.] The quality of being literal; literality.

1

1630.  Donne, Serm., xiii. 127. Origen … doth never pretend to much literalnesse in his expositions.

2

1824.  New Monthly Mag., X. 246. The same literalness of perception and absence of passion.

3

1881.  Westcott & Hort, Grk. N. T., II. 8. The greater literalness of later transcription.

4