[f. LITERAL + -NESS.] The quality of being literal; literality.
1630. Donne, Serm., xiii. 127. Origen doth never pretend to much literalnesse in his expositions.
1824. New Monthly Mag., X. 246. The same literalness of perception and absence of passion.
1881. Westcott & Hort, Grk. N. T., II. 8. The greater literalness of later transcription.