Mortal wound

A mortal wound is an injury that will ultimately lead to a person's death. Mortal refers to the mortality of a human: whether they are going to live or die. Wound is another term for injury. The expression can also be used figuratively.

The adjective mortal was first used in the 14th century. The word has roots in Old French mortel and Latin mortalis both meaning "fated to die" as well as mors meaning "in danger of death".

The noun wound comes from Old English wund meaning "to injure" as well as the Proto-Germanic *wuntho which also means "wound".

The first entry in the Oxford English Dictionary for mortal wound is dated 1578 and the first entry for mortally wounded is dated 1569. Pre-1569, in the 1390 Melibeus by Geoffrey Chaucer, the author uses the term "mortal woundes" in the quote "Thre of his olde foos..betten his wif wounded his doghter with fyue mortal woundes". This is in a scene where Melibeus's daughter received five mortal wounds, after three of his foes found Melibeus's wife and daughter alone in his house.

In 1569, mortally wounded was used in the text Certaine Secrete Wonders Nature by Edward Fenton in "aboue 400 dead bodies, beside 140 mortally wounded and almost torne in peces"; the quote explains that due to the extreme heat of a fire, 140 men were wounded. The account stated that they looked like they had been torn to pieces.

In 1578, mortal wound was used in the poetic text Courtlie Controuersie of Cupids Caulels by Jacques Yver, translated by Henry Wotton: "His mortal wound, that no long before was almost cured y a fomentation of the oyle of time, and neare skinned with hope of the recouerie of his welbeloued Iewel." The author describes how the person's old mortal wound was not yet healed and hoped he would recover completely.

In 1581, mortal wound was used in the historical non-fiction History of the Reformation of the Church of England by Gilbert Burnet and Nicholas Sander: "He went to Rome; and giving the Assault, in which received his mortal wound." Here Vaudemont went to subdue the battle but was prevented by the Duke of Boubon receiving a mortal wound. The Duke of Boubon then proceeded with the battle in Rome, causing many deaths as well as leading the Pope with a few Cardinals to flee for safety.

In 1593, mortal wound was used in the sonnet Fidessa, More Chaste than Kind: Sonnet XXVII in "Yet every foot gives thee thy mortal wound." The quote is from a sonnet that describes a man stumbling in the street at night as he metaphorically compares his existence to that of a worm. Due to the habitat of worms, every step a person takes could be a mortal wound inflicted on a worm ultimately leading to its death. In the sonnet, the man believes that his existence is worse than that of a worm.