A tiller taken word for word (7)

I believe the answer is:

literal

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'word for word' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'a tiller taken' is the wordplay.
'a tiller' anagrams to 'LITERAL'.
However, I'm not sure how this is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for literal that I've seen before include "Avoiding embellishment" , "Exact (translation)" , "Without exaggeration or embellishment" , "Taking words in their most basic sense" , "according to specifications" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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