literal-minded
UK[ˈlɪt(ə)rəl ˈmaɪndɪd]US[ˈlɪtərəl ˈmaɪndɪd]
adj
Taking words in their most basic or obvious meaning; lacking imagination or the ability to think in an abstract way.
Morpheme Breakdown
literal
minded
literal
meaning
minded
characterized by
Etymology
The word "literal-minded" is a modern English compound formed from two distinct roots. The first element, "literal," traces back to Latin litteralis, meaning "of or belonging to letters," derived from littera (letter). This root emphasizes a strict adherence to the written or verbal text. The second element, "minded," originates from the Old English noun for "mind" or "thought," used to form adjectives describing a person's mental disposition. The compound thus logically constructs a meaning describing a person whose mental framework is characterized by interpreting things strictly according to the explicit meaning of words, without allowance for metaphor, implication, or creative abstraction. It paints a picture of a cognitive style anchored to the concrete denotation of language.
Analysis
Structure: literal (meaning) + minded (characterized by)
- literal: From Latin littera (letter of the alphabet). In this compound, it carries the sense of "according to the exact meaning of the letters or words."
- minded: From Old English gemynd (memory, thought). In this compound, it functions as an adjective-forming suffix meaning "having a mind or character of a specified kind."
Examples
His literal-minded interpretation of the poetic metaphor completely missed its emotional depth.
The instructions were meant as a general guideline, but her literal-minded approach led her to follow them to the letter, even when it was impractical.
You have to be careful with jokes around him; he's so literal-minded that he often takes them as serious statements.