mortal

mortal

I

mor‧tal¹ /ˈmɔːtl $ ˈmɔːrtl/ adjective1. not able to live for ever
   OPP  immortal:
    Her father’s death reminded her that she was mortal.
2. mortal blow/danger/wound etc
  a. something very serious that may cause the end of something:
    The computer has dealt a mortal blow to traditional printing methods.
    Our health service is in mortal danger.
  b. something that causes death or may cause death ⇨ lethal:
    Near the end of the battle, he received a mortal wound.
    the screams of men in mortal combat (=fighting until one person kills the other)
3. mortal enemy/foe an enemy that you hate very much and will always hate:
    He glared at Claudia as if she were his mortal enemy.
4. mortal fear/dread/terror extreme fear:
    She lives in mortal fear of her husband’s anger.
5. sb’s mortal remains formal someone’s body, after they have died:
    the churchyard where his mortal remains lie (=where his body is buried)
6. literary human – used especially when comparing humans with gods, spirits etc:
    Both gods and mortal men found her captivating.
7. mortal coil literary life or the state of being alive:
    when Hubbard shuffled off this mortal coil (=died)

II

mortal² noun [countable]
1. lesser/ordinary/mere mortals ordinary people, as compared with people who are more important, more powerful, or more skilled – used humorously:
    She dines in the executive suite, while we lesser mortals use the staff cafeteria.
2. literary a human – used especially when comparing humans with gods, spirits etc ⇨ immortal