1755. Johnson, Eng. Dict., s.v. Mortal. Extreme, violent. A low
word. Ibid. Mortally ... a low ludicrous word.
d. 1832. Scott [quoted in Century]. Six mortal hours did I endure
her loquacity.
1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xviii. Forty-two mortal long
hard-working days.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, xiv. I go there a mortal sight of
times.
1878. Stevenson, Inland Voyage, 255. They performed a piece ... in
five mortal acts.
Adv. (colloquial).—Extremely. Also Mortally.
1625. Bacon, Essays, ‘Of Envy.’ ‘Adrian the Emperour mortally
envied poets and painters.’
d. 1735. Granville [quoted by Johnson]. Know all, who would pretend
to my good grace, I mortally dislike a damning face.
1838. D. Jerrold, Men of Character, iii. I was mortal certain I
should find him here.
1840. Haliburton, Sam Slick, 3, Ser. 102. It was a mortal hot day,
and people actually sweated to that degree it laid the dust.
Mortar, subs. (common).—1. The same as Mortar-board (q.v.).