mor·tal / ˈmôrtl/ • adj. 1. (of a living human being, often in contrast to a divine being) subject to death: all men are mortal. ∎  of or relating to humanity as subject to death: the coffin held the mortal remains of her uncle. ∎ inf. conceivable or imaginable: punishment out of all mortal proportion to the offense.2. causing or liable to cause death; fatal: a mortal disease | fig. the scandal appeared to have struck a mortal blow to the government. ∎  (of a battle) fought to the death: from the outbuildings came the screams of men in mortal combat. ∎  (of an enemy or a state of hostility) admitting or allowing no reconciliation until death. ∎  Christian Theol. denoting a grave sin that is regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. Often contrasted with venial. ∎  (of a feeling, esp. fear) very intense: parents live in mortal fear of children's diseases. ∎ inf. very great: he was in a mortal hurry. ∎ inf., dated long and tedious: for three mortal days it rained.• n. a human being subject to death, often contrasted with a divine being. ∎ humorous a person contrasted with others regarded as being of higher status or ability: an ambassador had to live in a style that was not expected of lesser mortals.

mortal subject to death, human; deadly, fatal XIV; (of sin) XV; of or pert. to death XVI. — OF. mortal, latinized var. of OF. (also mod.) mortel, whence ME. mortel; or directly — L. mortālis, f. mors, mort- death, f. IE. *mor- *meṛ- *mr- die, as in L. morī die, mortuus dead, Gr. brotoí mortals, émorten died, OSl. mīrǫ. Lith. mìrštu I die, Skr. mriyáte dies; see -AL1.
So mortality XIV. — (O)F. — L.