mortal

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++mor·tal1 /ˈmɔːtl $ ˈmɔːrtl/ adjective  1  DIEnot able to live for ever 不会长生不死的，终有一死的 OPP immortal Her father’s death reminded her that she was mortal. 父亲的去世让她认识到终有一天她也会死去。2  mortal blow/danger/wound etc a) something very serious that may cause the end of something 〔可能造成事物终结的〕致命的打击/危险/伤害等 The computer has dealt a mortal blow to traditional printing methods. 计算机 给了传统的印刷方法一记致命的打击。 Our health service is in mortal danger. 我们的公共医疗保健服务岌岌可危。 b) KILLsomething that causes death or may cause death （可）致命的打击/危险/伤口等 → lethal Near the end of the battle, he received a mortal wound. 战斗快要结束时，他受了致命伤。 the screams of men in mortal combat (=fighting until one person kills the other) 殊死搏斗中士兵的叫喊声3  mortal enemy/foe ENEMYan enemy that you hate very much and will always hate 死敌，不共戴天的敌人 He glared at Claudia as if she were his mortal enemy. 他怒视着克劳迪娅，好像她是他不共戴天的敌人。4  mortal fear/dread/terror FRIGHTENEDextreme fear 极度的恐惧 She lives in mortal fear of her husband’s anger. 她终日惶恐不安，生怕她丈夫发怒。5  somebody’s mortal remains formal someone’s body, after they have died 某人的遗体 the churchyard where his mortal remains lie (=where his body is buried) 安葬他遗体的教堂墓地6  literaryALPERSON/PEOPLE human – used especially when comparing humans with gods, spirits etc 人的，凡人的〔尤与神灵等相对〕 Both gods and mortal men found her captivating. 人神皆为她倾倒。7  mortal coil literary life or the state of being alive 尘世的烦扰；活着 when Hubbard shuffled off this mortal coil (=died) 哈伯德撒手尘寰时

Examples from the Corpus

mortal• We are all mortal.• He gathered all his strength to deliver his opponent the final mortal blow.• Our mortal bodies may die but we will never die.• What have naked nymphs to do with mortal expectations?• a sight as yet unseen by mortal eyes• Phemonoe was privileged to entertain mortal lovers at will.• The free market forces mortal men to act like alchemists; they must turn base materials into more valuable goods.• Humans exist in time and, therefore, bear a temporal or mortal nature.• They actually went to the shrine with the mortal seeds in their pockets.• He was mesmerized, breathless with the unspeakable feel of mortal violence.• He killed Leonardo and received a mortal wound himself.mortal2 noun [countable]  1  lesser/ordinary/mere mortals ORDINARYordinary people, as compared with people who are more important, more powerful, or more skilled – used humorously 普通人，草民，平民百姓〔幽默用法〕 She dines in the executive suite, while we lesser mortals use the staff cafeteria. 她在行政套房用膳，而我们这些小民则是在职工餐厅就餐。2. literaryALPERSON/PEOPLE a human – used especially when comparing humans with gods, spirits etc 凡人〔尤与神灵等相对〕 → immortal

Examples from the Corpus

mortal• Next in order came a few mortals so excellent in their art that they almost equaled the divine performers.• The human mortals want their winter cheer: No night is now with hymn or carol blest.• And together we were emphatically co-operative that neighbouring forces were populated by lesser mortals.• We lesser mortals who had been banished to such places as Wolverton were, however, less fortunate.• Miracles can be worked by Him alone, although mere mortals may entreat Him by prayer to perform them on their behalf.• Most mortals considered anxiety, and plenty of it, an absolute requirement for getting the job done.• You scientists, you upholders of the social contract, gloat like other mortals when somebody makes a mistake?Origin mortal1 (1300-1400) Old French Latin mortalis, from mors “death”

mor·tal1 adjectivemortal2 nounChineseSyllable  

live ever not for Corpus able to

mortal

I

mor‧tal¹ /ˈmɔːtl $ ˈmɔːrtl/ adjective1. not able to live for ever
   OPP  immortal:
    Her father’s death reminded her that she was mortal.
2. mortal blow/danger/wound etc
  a. something very serious that may cause the end of something:
    The computer has dealt a mortal blow to traditional printing methods.
    Our health service is in mortal danger.
  b. something that causes death or may cause death ⇨ lethal:
    Near the end of the battle, he received a mortal wound.
    the screams of men in mortal combat (=fighting until one person kills the other)
3. mortal enemy/foe an enemy that you hate very much and will always hate:
    He glared at Claudia as if she were his mortal enemy.
4. mortal fear/dread/terror extreme fear:
    She lives in mortal fear of her husband’s anger.
5. sb’s mortal remains formal someone’s body, after they have died:
    the churchyard where his mortal remains lie (=where his body is buried)
6. literary human – used especially when comparing humans with gods, spirits etc:
    Both gods and mortal men found her captivating.
7. mortal coil literary life or the state of being alive:
    when Hubbard shuffled off this mortal coil (=died)

II

mortal² noun [countable]
1. lesser/ordinary/mere mortals ordinary people, as compared with people who are more important, more powerful, or more skilled – used humorously:
    She dines in the executive suite, while we lesser mortals use the staff cafeteria.
2. literary a human – used especially when comparing humans with gods, spirits etc ⇨ immortal