mor·tal (môr'tl)
adj.

1. Liable or subject to death.
2. Of or relating to humankind; human: the mortal limits of understanding.
3. Of, relating to, or accompanying death: mortal throes.
4. Causing death; fatal: a mortal wound. See synonyms at fatal.
5. Fighting or fought to the death; unrelenting: a mortal enemy; a mortal attack.
6. Of great intensity or severity; dire: mortal terror.
7. Conceivable: no mortal reason for us to go.
8. Used as an intensive: a mortal fool.

n.
A human.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin mortālis, from mors, mort-, death.]

mortally mor'tal·ly adv.

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---