Mortal

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈmɔːtÉ™l/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)tÉ™l

Origin

From Anglo-Norman mortal, Middle French mortal, and their source Latin mortālis, from mors ("death").

Full definition of mortal

Adjective

1. Susceptible to death by aging, sickness, injury, or wound; not immortal. from 14th c.
• 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:I was in mortal fear lest the captain should repent of his confessions and make an end of me.
2. Causing death; deadly, fatal, killing, lethal (now only of wounds, injuries etc.). from 14th c.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.11:Blyndfold he was; and in his cruell fist
  A mortall bow and arrowes keene did hold ….
3. Fatally vulnerable; vital.
• MiltonLast of all, against himself he turns his sword, but missing the mortal place, with his poniard finishes the work.
4. Of or relating to the time of death.
• Alexander PopeSafe in the hand of one disposing Power,
  Or in the natal or the mortal hour.
5. Affecting as if with power to kill; deathly.
• DrydenThe nymph grew pale, and in a mortal fright.
• mortal enemy
6. Human; belonging to man, who is mortal.mortal wit or knowledge; mortal power
• MiltonThe voice of God
  To mortal ear is dreadful.
7. Very painful or tedious; wearisome.a sermon lasting two mortal hours
8. (UK, slang) Very drunk; wasted; smashed.Let's go out and get mortal!

Derived terms

• mortality
• mortal sin

Synonyms

• (causing death) fatal, lethal

Antonyms

• (susceptible to death) immortal, everlasting
• (of or relating to death) natal

Noun

1. A human; someone susceptible to death.
   Her wisdom was beyond that of a mere mortal.
• 1596, William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's DreamLord what fools these mortals be!
• 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher Chapter 1, But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder.

Antonyms

• immortal