literally(adv.)
1530年代,“按照单词的确切含义或用法字面意义上”,来自 literal + -ly (2)。自17世纪末以来,它已被用于比喻、夸张等,以表明接下来的内容必须以最强的可接受意义来理解。但这与该词的词源意义不可调和,导致了这种备受诟病的现代用法。
We have come to such a pass with this emphasizer that where the truth would require us to insert with a strong expression 'not literally, of course, but in a manner of speaking', we do not hesitate to insert the very word we ought to be at pains to repudiate; ... such false coin makes honest traffic in words impossible. [Fowler, 1924]
我们已经到了这样的地步,这个强调词在真相需要我们插入“当然不是字面意义上,而是比喻意义上”的强烈表达时,我们毫不犹豫地插入了我们应该努力否认的这个词; ...这种虚假的货币使得诚实的言辞交易变得不可能。[福勒,1924]
该词起源时间:1530年代