1694. Plautus made English [Nares]. Then they had a mort of
prisoners, with boys and girls.
1740. Richardson, Pamela [quoted by Halliwell]. He gave her a mort
of good things at the same time, and bid her wear them in
remembrance of her good friend, my lady, his mother.
1775. Sheridan, Rivals, i. 1. Here’s a mort o’ merry-making, hey?
d. 1823. Bloomfield, The Horkey. And sitch a mort of folks began To
eat up the good cheer.
All amort. See Amort.
Mortal, adj. (vulgar).—1. Extreme. Cf. Awful, jolly, etc.
1679. Dryden, Ovid, i. 733. The nymph grew pale, and in a mort
fright.
d. 1704. Lestrange [quoted by Johnson]. The birds were in a mortal
apprehension of the beetles, till the sparrow reasoned them into
understanding.