Mortal

Pronunciation

/ˈmɔːrtl/

Definitions

• Adjective: Relating to or characteristic of human beings as having limited duration of life; subject to death. Example: “Mortal beings are destined to age and eventually pass away.”

  • Also used metaphorically to describe something with deadly consequences or capable of causing death: “The venom of this snake is highly mortal.”

• Noun: A human being considered as subject to death; a person. Example: “All mortals must face their mortality someday.”

Phrases

• “Mortal enemy”: An archenemy or one with whom one has irreconcilable differences, often suggesting a conflict that could lead to death.
• “Mortal sin”: In religious contexts, it refers to a gravely sinful act that can lead to damnation if not absolved before death.
• “For all intents and purposes”: This idiomatic expression suggests something is effectively true, even though it may not be literally so; originally from the fuller form “for all intents, constructions, and purposes,” emphasizing the permanence of something despite its potential impermanence due to human mortality.

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “Fearing his own mortality, he began to appreciate every moment of life.”
• Noun: “The gods looked down upon the mortals with a mixture of envy and pity.”

Synonyms

• Human (as a noun)
• Temporal (adjective, referring to human life)
• Earthly (adjective, referring to humans or things pertaining to human existence)
• Deadly (adjective, when referring to something capable of causing death)
• Finite (adjective, describing the limited lifespan of humans)