4 ms·

Literally. Usage #2: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally

by CPLX 10y ago

ysavir 10y ago
Well that's.... Sad. I think I will take what little authority I (don't) have and veto that definition, seeing as it literally defeats the purpose of definition #1. And I was invoking definition #1 there, in case that wasn't clear.
- Asooka 10y ago
  It's not quite as bad as you think, literally is usually used figuratively in "A is literally B" to indicate that while A is obviously not literally B, the outcome that A will have will be practically the same as that from B.
  - eric_h 10y ago
    That's actually a pretty reasonable defense of what I've generally considered a cringe worthy usage of the word "literally".
- coldpie 10y ago
  Language changes, and as speakers of modern English, we should adapt to changes instead of tilting at that particular windmill. However, I commiserate with you over the transformation of a useful word into yet another synonym for "really".
- silviogutierrez 10y ago
  It's essentially a contronym now. Not unlike "egregious" [1]. [1] http://www.dictionary.com/browse/egregious http://www.dictionary.com/browse/egregious
- _jal 10y ago
  I'll just leave this right here. http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=navigating/intro/prescriptive http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=navigating/intro/prescriptive
- burkaman 10y ago
  "Sad" used to mean "sated". Why are you spreading the incorrect usage perpetuated by fools in the 1690s? These days nobody understands me when I use the true definition. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=sad http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&searc...
  - ysavir 10y ago
    It's one thing when a word evolves. It's another thing entirely when the evolution is the opposite of the original meaning. So let's not get condescending when it's more than a simple shift in meaning, okay?
    - burkaman 10y ago
      I guess it's a little different but it happens all the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples Also, "sad" and "sated" aren't quite opposites but they're very different. Are you telling me you wouldn't be annoyed if people started talking about how sad they were at the end of a great meal?
markdog12 10y ago
Eternal shame on merriam-webster.
- maxerickson 10y ago
  A dictionary that fails to document usage is a lot worse than one that documents usage you don't like.
  - repsilat 10y ago
    A good dictionary will also document widespread distaste for particular usages, though. It's a losing battle with any intensifier -- we've already lost "really" and "very" to this problem, and "literally" will pass too. That doesn't mean it's not worth trying to extend its life a little longer, though. ("Objectively" is also being used as an intensifier in casual conversation, though I think always with a touch of irony... Good fun.)
    - maxerickson 10y ago
      Did they add this bit today? Should literally be used for emphasis? Sense 2 is common and not at all new but has been frequently criticized as an illogical misuse. It is pure hyperbole intended to gain emphasis, but it often appears in contexts where no additional emphasis is necessary.
metaphorm 10y ago
I wish this had never happened and I will probably use a different dictionary from now on.
Kiro 10y ago
That makes no sense. It's like saying that "yes" means "yes", but it could also mean "no".
- bgun 10y ago
  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yeah+right http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yeah+right
- burkaman 10y ago
  http://www.dictionary.com/browse/cleave http://www.dictionary.com/browse/cleave http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sanction http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sanction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples
nicwolff 10y ago
Merrian-Webster is garbage. https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=literally https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=literally
- Anderkent 10y ago
  Oxford supports MW [1]. And so does common usage. [1]: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/literally https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/literally
tripzilch 9y ago
yeah we may have won the battle but not the war. I have currently taken it upon me to use "figuratively" improperly and I won't stop until all language has lost meaning.

Literally. Usage #2: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally

by CPLX 10y ago

Literally. Usage #2: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally

ysavir 10y ago

Well that's.... Sad. I think I will take what little authority I (don't) have and veto that definition, seeing as it literally defeats the purpose of definition #1. And I was invoking definition #1 there, in case that wasn't clear.

Asooka 10y ago
It's not quite as bad as you think, literally is usually used figuratively in "A is literally B" to indicate that while A is obviously not literally B, the outcome that A will have will be practically the same as that from B.
- eric_h 10y ago
  That's actually a pretty reasonable defense of what I've generally considered a cringe worthy usage of the word "literally".
coldpie 10y ago
Language changes, and as speakers of modern English, we should adapt to changes instead of tilting at that particular windmill. However, I commiserate with you over the transformation of a useful word into yet another synonym for "really".
silviogutierrez 10y ago
It's essentially a contronym now. Not unlike "egregious" [1]. [1] http://www.dictionary.com/browse/egregious http://www.dictionary.com/browse/egregious
_jal 10y ago
I'll just leave this right here. http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=navigating/intro/prescriptive http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=navigating/intro/prescriptive
burkaman 10y ago
"Sad" used to mean "sated". Why are you spreading the incorrect usage perpetuated by fools in the 1690s? These days nobody understands me when I use the true definition. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=sad http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&searc...
- ysavir 10y ago
  It's one thing when a word evolves. It's another thing entirely when the evolution is the opposite of the original meaning. So let's not get condescending when it's more than a simple shift in meaning, okay?
  - burkaman 10y ago
    I guess it's a little different but it happens all the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples Also, "sad" and "sated" aren't quite opposites but they're very different. Are you telling me you wouldn't be annoyed if people started talking about how sad they were at the end of a great meal?

markdog12 10y ago

Eternal shame on merriam-webster.

maxerickson 10y ago
A dictionary that fails to document usage is a lot worse than one that documents usage you don't like.
- repsilat 10y ago
  A good dictionary will also document widespread distaste for particular usages, though. It's a losing battle with any intensifier -- we've already lost "really" and "very" to this problem, and "literally" will pass too. That doesn't mean it's not worth trying to extend its life a little longer, though. ("Objectively" is also being used as an intensifier in casual conversation, though I think always with a touch of irony... Good fun.)
  - maxerickson 10y ago
    Did they add this bit today? Should literally be used for emphasis? Sense 2 is common and not at all new but has been frequently criticized as an illogical misuse. It is pure hyperbole intended to gain emphasis, but it often appears in contexts where no additional emphasis is necessary.

metaphorm 10y ago

I wish this had never happened and I will probably use a different dictionary from now on.

Kiro 10y ago

That makes no sense. It's like saying that "yes" means "yes", but it could also mean "no".

bgun 10y ago
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yeah+right http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yeah+right
burkaman 10y ago
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/cleave http://www.dictionary.com/browse/cleave http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sanction http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sanction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples

nicwolff 10y ago

Merrian-Webster is garbage. https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=literally https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=literally

Anderkent 10y ago
Oxford supports MW [1]. And so does common usage. [1]: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/literally https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/literally

tripzilch 9y ago

yeah we may have won the battle but not the war. I have currently taken it upon me to use "figuratively" improperly and I won't stop until all language has lost meaning.