http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally

1: in a literal sense or manner : actually <took the remark literally> <was literally insane>

2: in effect : virtually <will literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or injustice — Norman Cousins>

god dammit internet what have you done.

beberly

United States117 Posts

September 20 2011 20:47 GMT

That's literally the dumbest thing I've ever seen.

Orpheos

United States1663 Posts

September 20 2011 20:48 GMT

LOL. hahahaha. didnt they also officially publish some crackpot word that sarah palin used during electrion year?

this is hilarious, and i know some grammar nazi friends of mine that will be super raging.

FabledIntegral

United States9232 Posts

September 20 2011 20:49 GMT

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA omg I just started laughing at work. Really?!

5-stars for entertainment value to me

Newbistic

China2912 Posts

September 20 2011 20:55 GMT

Oh internet, what have you done. The English language is changing, but must it change for the retarded?

Djzapz

Canada10681 Posts

September 20 2011 21:01 GMT

What the f

That's so bad -_-

storm44

1293 Posts

September 20 2011 21:06 GMT

This is one of my pet peeves too, when I see people use that word in some exaggerated manner like "this will literally kill X" as if they don't t even know what the word means.

jimmyjingle

United States472 Posts

September 20 2011 21:06 GMT

why are you guys so upset? words change, this is virtually meaningless.

FabledIntegral

United States9232 Posts

September 20 2011 21:08 GMT

On September 21 2011 06:06 jimmyjingle wrote:
why are you guys so upset? words change, this is virtually meaningless.

It changed to now convey the exact OPPOSITE meaning it originally was meant to be used for.

Al Bundy

7257 Posts

September 20 2011 21:11 GMT

#10

I literally died from laughter when reading this thread.

Anyway I agree with you, words have precise meanings for a reason. We can't just use them however we want.

Jerubaal

United States7684 Posts

September 20 2011 21:15 GMT

#11

On September 21 2011 06:11 AlBundy wrote:
I literally died from laughter when reading this thread.

Anyway I agree with you, words have precise meanings for a reason. We can't just use them however we want.

Darnit, you beat me to it.

And if you use 'guesstimate' or 'ginormous' you waive the right to complain about this.

bellhop

United States165 Posts

September 20 2011 21:15 GMT

#12

Lilly, the caretakers daughter, was literally run off her feet.

Omnipresent

United States871 Posts

September 20 2011 21:16 GMT

#13

Don't blame the internet. People were using this word wrong long before the internet became mainstream. It really is sad, though.

Blazinghand

United States25560 Posts

September 20 2011 21:16 GMT

#14

I'm literally pissing myself with laughter, given this new definition.

Literally.

conTAgi0n

United States335 Posts

September 20 2011 21:18 GMT

#15

I normally have no problem accepting that languages change and evolve, old words, forms, and pronunciations fall out of usage while new ones arise.

This one I find kind of annoying though, since it almost seems as though that usage undermines the word's more traditional meaning.

thefreedictionary gives a more clear definition (including the new meaning) and has a good note on why the word took on that alternate meaning: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/literally

MinoMino

Norway1103 Posts

September 20 2011 21:19 GMT

#16

Crap, now if I point out that someone is using it wrong, they'll just link me to the M-W dictionary and prove me wrong. Crap!

synapse

China13814 Posts

September 20 2011 21:24 GMT

#17

The world makes me sad....

suspiciousbear

Canada112 Posts

September 20 2011 21:26 GMT

#18

I refuse to accept that second meaning of the world. The fact that they changed it isn't a problem, but the mere notion of a word meaning two opposite things is absolutely baffling. The word no longer has clear meaning. One can no longer understand what that word stands for when it is used. If everyone misused the word 'no' to mean 'yes', would no alternatively be defined as an affirmatory response?

Charger

United States2405 Posts

September 20 2011 21:31 GMT

#19

The stupidity hurts my soul.

myzael

Poland605 Posts

September 20 2011 21:31 GMT

#20

On September 21 2011 05:55 Newbistic wrote:
The ~~English~~ every language is changing, but must it change for the retarded?

The process is normal but the idiocy of changes amazes me. There are rumours that in polish one could soon use the form "poszłem" which I would compare to "I goed".
Damn.
And I've read about those spelling reform requests not long ago too...

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