verbatimadv.adj.n.
/və(ː)ˈbeɪtɪm/, U.S. /vərˈbeɪdᵻm/ A. adv.† 3. Orally; by means of the spoken word. Obsolete. rare.
1. Word for word.
a. With reference to a copy of a text or passage in a book, a report of a speech, a transcription of spoken testimony, quotation of spoken remarks, etc.: using exactly the same words as in the original; in the exact words.
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the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > [adverb] > verbatim
verbatim?1503
verbatimly1587
verbatim et literatim1642
textually1837
the mind > language > linguistics > linguistic unit > word > [adverb] > word for word
fro word unto wordeOE
word after wordeOE
word by wordeOE
word in wordeOE
word for wordc1400
after the worda1450
verbatim?1503
verbatimly1587
verbally1588
verbatim et literatim1642
syllabically1654
totidem verbis1659
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > [adverb] > so as to match truth, exactly > in words or text
after the lettera1425
letterly?a1475
verbatim?1503
verbatimly1587
literally1591
literatim1623
verbatim et literatim1642
au pied de la lettrea1739
textually1837
?1503 in 9th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS: Pt. 2 (1884) App. 263/2 in Parl. Papers (C. 3773) XXXVII. 1 The said patent..which is now verbatim copied in this boke in the xlviii. lef.
a1525 ( Coventry Leet Bk. (1908) II. 477 Stodealf..brought like writyng as is before wreton verbatim direct to þe Maire.
1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue f. 9v Although the place..be verbatim and word for word as I alledged it, yet will he not be satisfied.
1602 J. Willis Art Stenogr. sig. A3v He that is well practized in this Art, may write Verbatim, as fast as a man can treateably speake.
1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 155 A Volume five times as large as is this, is not able to contain them all verbatim.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 11. ⁋4 I shall give you my Cousin's Letter Verbatim, without altering a Syllable.
?1768–9 Encycl. Brit. (1771) I. 620/2 Merchants are provided with a large book, in folio, into which is copied verbatim every letter of business before it be sent off.
1826 F. Reynolds Life & Times II. 184 It was, according to the previous directions of the great critic and editor, inserted verbatim.
1868 Nation 5 Nov. 369/1 The ‘Negro Fables’..were taken down as they are reproduced, verbatim, from the lips of slaves or freedmen.
1919 M. Mitchell Let. 21 Oct. in Dynamo going to Waste (1985) 45 Your chance remark that to know life well, one must live deeply (yes, I can quote you nearly verbatim, my boy!).
1954 N.Y. Times 21 Feb. x. 3/3 We leave the theatre singing tunes and reciting the dialogue almost verbatim.
2008 J. Groucutt Business Degree Success vi. 85 Sections of text have been copied verbatim without acknowledgement.
b. With reference to a translation.
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the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > translation > [adverb] > word for word
fro word unto wordeOE
word by wordeOE
word for wordc1400
verbatim1563
metaphrastically1577
literally1591
1563 T. Gale Certaine Wks. Chirurg. i. 6 Whiche maye ryghte well be englyshed, althoughe not verbatim yet in meanynge on this or lyke sorte.
1583 W. Fulke Def. Transl. Script. i. 69 The Scriptures translated verbatim, exactly, and according to the proper vse and signification of the wordes.
1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love Pref. Witness the Speeches in the first Act, translated verbatim out of Ovid.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. C ij The Translator could do no less than Verbatim to English the aforesaid letter from the Original.
1786 S. Henley tr. W. Beckford Arabian Tale 19 This venerable personage read the characters, with facility; and explained them verbatim, as follows.
1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 124 (note) A translation verbatim from the French.
1895 Reliquary Jan. 85 The life of the sixth Abbot, translated verbatim from the original Latin, is here given.
1932 North-China Herald 12 Jan. 57/4 A Chinese restaurant on Szechuen Road has on the front a notice, which rendered verbatim reads ‘Sun man excuse not invite wait’.
2016 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 8 Sept. 8 Where you have foreign defendants..trials take longer, not least because suddenly everything must be translated verbatim.
c. verbatim et literatim [ < verbatim adv. + classical Latin et and + literatim adv.] : word for word and letter for letter; used to emphasize the absolute exactness of a copy, transcription, etc.
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the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > [adverb] > verbatim
verbatim?1503
verbatimly1587
verbatim et literatim1642
textually1837
the mind > language > linguistics > linguistic unit > word > [adverb] > word for word
fro word unto wordeOE
word after wordeOE
word by wordeOE
word in wordeOE
word for wordc1400
after the worda1450
verbatim?1503
verbatimly1587
verbally1588
verbatim et literatim1642
syllabically1654
totidem verbis1659
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > [adverb] > so as to match truth, exactly > in words or text
after the lettera1425
letterly?a1475
verbatim?1503
verbatimly1587
literally1591
literatim1623
verbatim et literatim1642
au pied de la lettrea1739
textually1837
1642 Mag. of Scandall sig. B2 An Affidavit annexed in these words, verbatim & literatim.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iv. v. 194 We have..procured an authentick Copy; and here it follows verbatim et literatim . View more context for this quotation
1787 J. Hawkins Life Johnson 94 (note) Mr. Newsham printed and dispersed some thousand copies verbatim et literatim of this letter.
1828 Reg. Deb. Congr. 4 276/2 It was, verbatim et literatim, a copy of the log-book of the brig.
1900 Jrnl. School Geogr. (U.S.) Jan. 7 The following story is copied..from his note-book verbatim et literatim.
1993 Washington Post 26 Dec. (Book World section) 10/3 I quote, verbatim et literatim: ‘It was no summer progress.’
d. In extended use, with reference to the copying or reproduction of a painting, passage of music, etc.: with absolute faithfulness to the original; in every detail.
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1880 Musical Times 1 Nov. 566/2 Mr. Sullivan has adopted the vitiated form of melody verbatim.
1928 H. Hutchinson From Rome to Florence i. 25 A German prince with truly Teutonic assimilation had it [sc. a garden] copied verbatim.
1981 D. Gordon Second Sight (National Gallery) 16/2 Throughout his career, Gainsborough looked closely at Old Masters, sometimes copying verbatim, sometimes assimilating a style.
2010 Jewish Q. Rev. 100 386 Naomi Shemer's song stirs many Israeli hearts but borrows its melody verbatim from a non-Jewish folk song.
2. † a. In so many words; exactly, precisely. Obsolete.
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the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > [adverb] > so as to match truth, exactly
rightlyeOE
rightOE
faithfullyc1425
preciselya1513
justlya1538
verbatim1566
strictly1602
exactly1662
correctlya1704
prezactly1835
sensu stricto1849
perzactly1850
'zackly1886
1566 Briefe Exam. Certaine Declar. sig. ****2 Did he not appoynt temperall rites in the Churche, which he had not Verbatim expressely at his masters hands?
c1613 ( in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 151 That your sayd counsell may have all the estayts..wrytten verbatim in paper.
a1638 J. Mede Wks. (1672) 666 That which the Spirit speaks in the Written Word, that it speaks ῥητως, verbatim, expresly.
1683 J. Dalrymple Decisions Lords of Council & Session I. 576 The Pursuer answered, that the Lords always did, and might Explain, and Extend Acts of Parliament to Cases implyed, and consequent, albeit not verbatim exprest.
b. In exact or strict accordance with the words. Cf. to the letter at letter n.1 Phrases 1b(b).
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the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > [adverb] > so as to match truth, exactly > matching action to words
verbatim1575
1575 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. (1880) 368 Ye said Citie could not..performe ye same verbatim.
1887 Boston Daily Globe 29 Sept. 8/4 With their complete codes and regulations that must be observed verbatim.
1892 Health & Home Mar. 54/1 Follow the directions verbatim as if your life depended upon every word.
1914 Jrnl. Biol. Chem. 19 523 When the procedure is followed verbatim, low results are unavoidable.
1955 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 13 Feb. 30/4 If the excellent advice..proffered by these two gentlemen were followed verbatim, our food standards would rise and our food costs fall.
2015 R. Cliff China's Mil. Power iii. 53 Personnel are expected to achieve their commander's overall intent, rather than simply execute his orders verbatim.
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the mind > language > speech > [adverb]
mouthlya1425
by word of mouthc1456
by tonguec1550
expressedlya1555
verbo1561
verbally1571
viva voce1581
ore tenusa1601
verbatima1616
orally1666
speakably1845
on the blob1851
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iii. i. 13 Thinke not..That therefore I haue forg'd, or am not able Verbatim to rehearse the Methode of my Penne. View more context for this quotation
B. adj.
1. Corresponding with or following an original text, speech, etc., word for word; transcribed, copied, quoted, or translated verbatim.
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the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > [adjective] > following original exactly
line by line1487
perfect1523
verbal1598
sound1599
verya1616
literala1627
verbatim1651
undepraved1686
literatim1774
letter-perfect1867
line for line1876
the mind > language > linguistics > linguistic unit > word > [adjective] > word-for-word
word by wordeOE
word for word?1611
verbatim1834
1651 Lady E. Douglas Restitution of Prophecy 30 And thus after a verbatim way, for our hiding days in season: Servants such of Mammon or Money.
1658 J. Goodwin Triumviri Pref. sig. f4 I shall not trouble thee nor my self, with a verbatim transcribing of the place.
1721 C. Gildon Laws of Poetry 91 Many words, which in a verbatim translation would be highly obscene, were not so in the original.
1756 P. C. Webb Short Acct. Particulars conc. Domes-day Bk. 11 This MS...is a verbatim copy of great part of Domes-day, for the county of Kent.
1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 732/1 A mere simple verbatim repetition..of the romances and scandalous anecdotes.
1880 Printing Trades Jrnl. xxxi. 6 A machine for verbatim reporting, which will print phonetically.
1936 Spectator 20 Nov. 884/1 His speech is too long for verbatim quotation here.
1987 P. Wright & P. Greengrass Spycatcher viii. 111 Verbatim copies of De Gaulle's cables were regularly passed to the Foreign Secretary in his red box.
2008 M. Gado Death Row Women ii. 7 The New York Times..published a verbatim transcript of court testimony for readers.
2. † b. Of a speaker: usually reported, or regarded as worth reporting, word for word. Obsolete.
a. Of a reporter or secretary: able to transcribe or take down verbatim speeches, spoken testimony, or dictation, typically by the use of shorthand. Also occasionally more generally: that transcribes or reports on something verbatim.
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society > communication > writing > writer > writer according to system > [adjective] > relating to shorthand-writer > able to write shorthand
short-handeda1658
verbatim1831
1831 Fraser's Mag. June 605/1 We..condescend to be the verbatim reporters of language.
1834 Sheffield Independent 25 Jan. A verbatim reporter must have the celerity to put down two words in a single second of time.
1876 Athenæum 26 Aug. 257/2 (advt.) A gentleman, who..is an able leader-writer, verbatim stenographer, and a versatile descriptive reporter, desires a re-engagement.
1897 Westm. Gaz. 9 Apr. 7/2 The Major spoke so rapidly that the fastest ‘verbatim’ hands seemed to be embarrassed.
1913 Sat. Rev. 29 Nov. 690/2 Rivalries between sketch-writers and reporters (‘mechanics’, as one lofty sketch-writer described the verbatim men).
1928 N.Y. Times 9 Sept. xiii. 8/3 (advt.) Easy to become 300-word [a] minute,..verbatim secretary.
2003 Guardian 15 Oct. (Society section) 82/1 (advt.) The Official Report of the House of Lords..is looking for an experienced parliamentary verbatim reporter.
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the mind > language > speech > narration > direct speech > [adjective] > indirect
oblique1860
indirect1866
verbatim1892
reportative1953
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 7 Apr. 1/3 The verbatim men, the column men,..and the paragraph men.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 14 May 1/2 So much has Lord Rosebery slipped out from the front rank of ‘verbatim’ politicians.
1905 Irish Times 30 Dec. 6/6 Both of them are what is technically known as ‘verbatim’ speakers. That is to say they are reported in full.
C. n.
A verbatim transcription or account, esp. of a speech or (in later use) verbal comment; a word-for-word report.
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the mind > language > speech > speech-making > [noun] > a speech > report of a speech
verbatim1658
1658 J. Goodwin Triumviri Pref. sig. g4v They may satisfie themselves by repairing to the verbatìm of his own discourse, as it spreadeth it self upon pag. 437. & 438. of his large Book of Perseverance.
1692 J. Wyeth Athenian Society Unvaild 3/1 If you do not..give the World clear Proofs of your Assertions, in the Places and Answers above-noted, you shall be exposed,..by the Verbatim hereof in Print.
1710 Suppl. Athenian Oracle 351/2 The Verbatim of the Letter is to be Printed.
1868 Horticulturist Nov. 343/1 This is no overcolored picture, reader, but as near as our memory serves us, the verbatim of that spoken.
1890 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 Oct. 2/1 Each of these three performers [i.e. speakers] is promised ‘a verbatim’, regardless of length.
1898 Daily News 14 Apr. 10/4 Crisp writer wanted, who can also do a verbatim.
1949 Manch. Guardian 12 Feb. 3/1 The late nineties..were the days of verbatims of long Parliamentary and law reports.
1967 New Pittsburgh Courier 1 Apr. 19/1 There will be discussions of student verbatims—word for word reporting on visited patients.
2002 Washington Post (Nexis) 21 July a1 Aspiring priests minister at a hospital and then write ‘verbatims’ hyper-analyzing what they felt during those interactions.
Compounds
verbatim theatre n. a style of drama in which real events are reconstructed through the dramatization of the largely unaltered text of documentary sources such as newspaper reports, witness testimony, interviews, etc.
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1987 New Statesman 13 Mar. 23/1 It is no great surprise that ‘verbatim theatre’ as it is sometimes called has come closest to taking real root in communities that perceive themselves to be under-represented.
2004 Financial Times 11 Sept. (FT Mag.) 37/3 The increasing use of verbatim theatre techniques..still raises questions about how we dramatize truth.
2006 Santa Fe New Mexican 3 Nov. (Pasatiempo Mag.) 64/1 The Los Alamos Project is a piece of verbatim theater based upon oral-history interviews.
2016 S. Adiseshiah & L. LePage 21st Cent. Drama Introd. 4 The huge abundance, popularity and success of verbatim theatre in the twenty-first century speak to a contemporary desire for ‘real life’ to permeate performance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.adj.n.?1503