— lethality, lethalness , n. — lethally , adv.
/lee"theuhl/ , adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or causing death; deadly; fatal: a lethal weapon; a lethal dose.
2. made to cause death: a lethal chamber; a lethal attack.
3. causing great harm or destruction: The disclosures were lethal to his candidacy.
[ 1575-85; letalis, equiv. to let ( um ) death + -alis -AL 1 ; sp. (hence pron.) with -h- by assoc. with Gk léthe oblivion ]
Syn. 1. See fatal .