/ ˈmɔːtl; NAmE ˈmɔːrtl/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
that cannot live for ever and must die :
We are all mortal.
OPP immortal
2.
( literary ) causing death or likely to cause death; very serious :
a mortal blow / wound
to be in mortal danger
( figurative )
Her reputation suffered a mortal blow as a result of the scandal.
—compare fatal
3.
[ only before noun ] ( formal ) lasting until death
SYN deadly :
mortal enemies
They were locked in mortal combat (= a fight that will only end with the death of one of them) .
4.
[ only before noun ] ( formal ) ( of fear, etc. ) extreme :
We lived in mortal dread of him discovering our secret.
■ noun
(often humorous ) a human, especially an ordinary person with little power or influence
SYN human being :
old stories about gods and mortals
( humorous )
Such things are not for mere mortals like ourselves.
( humorous )
She can deal with complicated numbers in her head, but we lesser mortals need calculators!
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , or from Latin mortalis , from mors , mort- death.