mortal.

1. Subject to death.

2. Of an injury or threat, causing or liable to cause death.

3. Extreme in intensity, especially in conventional expressions such as mortal fear.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• mortal remains
• mortal wound
• mortal life

On the page

The duke's portrait made him look less mortal than his trembling hands did.

The surgeon knew the wound was mortal.

Even the longest-lived members of the order remained mortal.

Usage notes

Primary category: gothic. All mortal beings eventually die, but they need not be dying now. Mortal fear is an intensifying use. Comparative more mortal only in figurative contrasts; generally non-gradable in death-bound sense.