mortal

adjective

• 1(of a living human being, often in contrast to a divine being) subject to death:all men are mortal
• relating to humans as subject to death:the coffin held the mortal remains of her uncle

• 2causing or liable to cause death; fatal:a mortal disease figurativethe scandal appeared to have struck a mortal blow to the government
• (of a battle) fought to the death:the screams of men in mortal combat
• (of an enemy or a state of hostility) admitting or allowing no reconciliation until death: a mortal foe
• (of a feeling, especially fear) very intense:parents live in mortal fear of children’s diseases

• 3 informal conceivable or imaginable:he knew every mortal thing you did
• very great:he was in a mortal hurry
• dated long and tedious:for three mortal days it rained

• 4 Christian Theology denoting a grave sin that is regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace: Often contrasted with venial.she had committed a mortal sin

noun

• a human being subject to death, as opposed to a divine being: capacities only possible of God rather than mortals
• humorous a person contrasted with others regarded as being of higher status or ability:an ambassador had to live in a style which was not expected of lesser mortals