■ adjective
1》 (of a living creature) subject to death.
2》 causing or liable to cause death; fatal.
↘(of conflict or an enemy) admitting no reconciliation.
3》 (of a feeling, especially fear) very intense.
4》 informal conceivable or imaginable: every ~ thing.
↘very great: a ~ hurry.
5》 Christian Theology denoting a grave sin that is regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. Often contrasted with venial .
■ noun
1》 a ~ being.
2》 humorous a person contrasted with those of higher status or ability.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr., or from L. ~is , from mors , mort- 'death'.