Definition of mortal

The word "mortal" originates from the Latin word "mortalis," which means "subject to death" or "liable to die." The Latin word is derived from "mors," meaning "death," and the suffix "-alis," which forms an adjective indicating relation to or connexion with something. In Latin, "mortalis" was used to describe something that was mortal, or susceptible to death, unlike the gods who were considered immortal. The term "mortal" was later borrowed into Middle English from Old French, and has since been used to describe living beings that are subject to death, as opposed to the divine or supernatural. Today, the word "mortal" is used to describe not only humans, but also animals, plants, and other living things that are subject to the cycle of birth, growth, and death.