mortal

Where does the word "mortal" come from? It comes from Latin mors, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Mortal’s story begins in Latin: mors meant “death.” The root of 'mortgage', 'murder' and 'mortify'. Within Latin, it grew into mortalis by ancient. Subject to death, from mors (death). From there it passed into Old French as mortal by medieval. Carried into French for a being subject to death. It reached English by 1300s as mortal. Settled as the English word for something subject to death. Today, mortal means subject to death, or a human being as distinct from a god.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mors "death", the root of 'mortgage', 'murder' and 'mortify'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient mortalis "subject to death", subject to death, from mors (death).
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval mortal "subject to death", carried into French for a being subject to death.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s mortal "subject to death, or a human being", settled as the English word for something subject to death.