adj. (vulgar).—1.  Extreme. Cf. AWFUL, JOLLY, etc.

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  1679.  DRYDEN, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, i. 733. The nymph grew pale, and in a MORTAL fright.

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  d. 1704.  SIR R. L’ESTRANGE [quoted by JOHNSON]. The birds were in a MORTAL apprehension of the beetles, till the sparrow reasoned them into understanding.

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  2.  (common).—See quot. 1808. For synonyms, see DRINKS and SCREWED.

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  1808–25.  JAMIESON, An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, s.v. MORTAL, … dead drunk.

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  1889.  R. L. STEVENSON and L. OSBOURNE, The Wrong Box, vi. His men were all as MORTAL as himself.

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  3.  (colloquial).—Expletive and intensitive.

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  1755.  JOHNSON, A Dictionary of the English Language, s.v. MORTAL. Extreme, violent. A low word. Ibid. MORTALLY … a low ludicrous word.

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  d. 1832.  SCOTT [quoted in Century]. Six MORTAL hours did I endure her loquacity.

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  1837.  DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xviii. Forty-two MORTAL long hard-working days. Ibid. (1852), Bleak House, xiv. I go there a MORTAL sight of times.

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  1878.  R. L. STEVENSON, An Inland Voyage, 255. They performed a piece, called Pyramus and Thisbe, in five MORTAL acts.

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  Adv. (colloquial).—Extremely. Also MORTALLY.

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  1625.  BACON, Essays, ‘Of Envy.’ ‘Adrian the Emperour MORTALLY envied poets and painters.’

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  1696.  GEORGE GRANVILLE, LORD LANSDOWNE, Epilogue to the She-Gallants.

        Know all, who wou’d pretend to my good Grace,
I MORTALLY dislike a damning Face.

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  1838.  D. JERROLD, Men of Character (Job Pippins), iii. I was MORTAL certain I should find him here.

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  1840.  HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3, Ser. 102. It was a MORTAL hot day, and people actually sweated to that degree it laid the dust.

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