Jean Stafford, Bad Characters, 1954 Lily, the caretaker's daughter, was literally run off her feet.

Alfred Kazin, Harper's, December 1968 Even Muff did not miss our periods of companionship, because about that time she grew up and started having literally millions of kittens. вЂ¦ make the whole scene literally glow with the fires of his imagination. This sense has been in standard use by many esteemed writers since the 18th century. Is the extended use of literally slang?ДЄmong the meanings of literally is one which many people find problematic: 'in effect, virtually-used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible.' Neither this nor any of the other meanings of literally is what we would consider slang. It has been in regular use since the 18th century and may be found in the writings of Mark Twain, Charlotte BrontГ«, James Joyce, and many others.

The 'in effect virtually' meaning of literally is not a new sense.

One of the definitions of literally that we provide is 'in effect, virtually-used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible.' Some find this objectionable on the grounds that it is not the primary meaning of the word, 'with the meaning of each individual word given exactly.' However, this extended definition of literally is commonly used and is not quite the same meaning as figuratively ('with a meaning that is metaphorical rather than literal'). Frequently Asked Questions About literally Can literally mean figuratively?

Not even wrong origin