Re: fatally/mortally/deadly
Posted by futari on 2011/4/9 3:28:23
Quote:
Can you make your own choice after reading this?!
1) FATAL
The adjective FATAL is used to describe anything capable of causing or actually has caused death; it carries a strong suggestion of the inevitability of fate:
=> (e.g.) an illness that might not be serious for a young person, but will almost certainly prove FATAL to old people.
2) DEADLY
DEADLY is interchangeable with FATAL in this sense:
=> (e.g.) Leukemia was formerly an inevitably DEADLY disease.
DEADLY, however, in a way that FATAL cannot, can refer to a person who desires or seeks to cause the death of another person:
=> (e.g.) The murdered man had many deadly enemies.
3) MORTAL
MORTAL, like DEADLY, can be applied both to things or people that cause, are capable of causing, or seek to cause someone's death. In its reference to things, MORTAL differs from FATAL and DEADLY only in the fact that it is usually found in contexts that detail a death that has already occurred.
=> (e.g.) He was struck down by a MORTAL blow in the head.
=> (e.g.) Because of an ancient family feud, the two cousins had been MORTAL enemies from childhood.
[Note]
All three adjectives can be used to describe something that causes great fear or discomfort or that brings about disaster or ruin, but does not lead to physical death:
=> a FATAL mistake
=> a DEADLY insult
=> in MORTAL terror
HTH. 
Source - "Choose the Right Word"
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More info:
The following adjectives apply to what causes or is likely to cause death.
- FATAL describes conditions, circumstances, or events that have caused or are destined to cause death or dire consequences: a fatal illness.
- DEADLY means capable of killing: a deadly poison.
- MORTAL describes a condition or action that produces death: a mortal wound.
- ("LETHAL" refers to a sure agent of death that may have been created solely for the purpose of killing: execution by lethal injection.)
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Elinor wrote:
Q: He was fatally/mortally/deadly injured in the accident.
Which is correct?
Thanks.
Can you make your own choice after reading this?!
1) FATAL
The adjective FATAL is used to describe anything capable of causing or actually has caused death; it carries a strong suggestion of the inevitability of fate:
=> (e.g.) an illness that might not be serious for a young person, but will almost certainly prove FATAL to old people.
2) DEADLY
DEADLY is interchangeable with FATAL in this sense:
=> (e.g.) Leukemia was formerly an inevitably DEADLY disease.
DEADLY, however, in a way that FATAL cannot, can refer to a person who desires or seeks to cause the death of another person:
=> (e.g.) The murdered man had many deadly enemies.
3) MORTAL
MORTAL, like DEADLY, can be applied both to things or people that cause, are capable of causing, or seek to cause someone's death. In its reference to things, MORTAL differs from FATAL and DEADLY only in the fact that it is usually found in contexts that detail a death that has already occurred.
=> (e.g.) He was struck down by a MORTAL blow in the head.
=> (e.g.) Because of an ancient family feud, the two cousins had been MORTAL enemies from childhood.
[Note]
All three adjectives can be used to describe something that causes great fear or discomfort or that brings about disaster or ruin, but does not lead to physical death:
=> a FATAL mistake
=> a DEADLY insult
=> in MORTAL terror
HTH.
Source - "Choose the Right Word"
-------------------------------------------------------
More info:
The following adjectives apply to what causes or is likely to cause death.
- FATAL describes conditions, circumstances, or events that have caused or are destined to cause death or dire consequences: a fatal illness.
- DEADLY means capable of killing: a deadly poison.
- MORTAL describes a condition or action that produces death: a mortal wound.
- ("LETHAL" refers to a sure agent of death that may have been created solely for the purpose of killing: execution by lethal injection.)
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