All 7 Uses of
mortal
in
Macbeth
- I have learned by the perfectest report they have more in them than mortal knowledge.
p. 31.1mortal = merely human
- Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts,p. 33.5mortal = deadly
- the time has been,
That, when the brains were out, the man would die,
And there an end; but now they rise again,
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,p. 105.5 *mortal = deadlyeditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: Time was when a man's brains were knocked out, he died, and that was the end of it. But now, they rise again even with deadly blows to their heads.
- And you all know, security
Is mortals' chiefest enemy.p. 113.0mortals = mankind'seditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: And you all know that too much self-confidence is mankind's greatest enemy.
- and our high-placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom.p. 127.6mortal = humaneditor's notes: Mortal custom could be paraphrased as customary death.
- Hold fast the mortal sword,
p. 139.5mortal = deadly
- The spirits that know
All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus,—
"Fear not, Macbeth; no man that's born of woman
Shall e'er have power upon thee."p. 169.3 *mortal = humaneditor's notes: "The spirits that know all mortal consequences," could be paraphrased as: "The spirits that know all things that happen to mankind."
Definitions:
-
(1)
(mortal as in: mortal body) human (especially merely human); or subject to death
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(2)
(mortal as in: a mortal wound) causing death
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(3)
(mortal as in: felt mortal agony) extreme or intense