Defintion of mere mortals?

Question

I know Steve Jobs uses it alot. What does it mean?

Answer 1

Simply, a mere mortal is being nothing more than specified human being. In fiction, it is usually used poetically in contrast of a great being such as a superhuman character, a deity or a larger-than-life character.

"In some respects the life of a censor is
more exhilarating that of an emperor. The
best the emperor can do is to snip off the
heads of men and women, who are mere
mortals. The censor can decapitate ideas which
but for him might have lived forever." - Heywood Broun

Steve Jobs is unbelievably a leading figure in both the computer and entertainment industries. Thus, we mere mortals must bow to him.

Answer 2

Just off the cuff--

Mere--little, inconsequential
Mortals--humans

If someone is a "mere mortal" they wouldn't have superpowers like being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, they'd just have to walk around the building like everyone else. A lot of times people who are "awesome" at whatever they do are considered "superhuman" and those who don't have those abilities are "mere morals." Ex. Einstein had the brainpower of 200 computers, the rest of us are mere mortals in comparison. (or something like that but not as lame...)

Answer 3

I believe it is a framework for Visual FoxPro. I would think that he gets the name from the from William Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream. He could have gotten it somewhere else, but I think it was from Midsummer....

Answer 4

Humans.

Answer 5

–adjective 1. subject to death; having a transitory life: all mortal creatures.
2. of or pertaining to human beings as subject to death; human: this mortal life.
3. belonging to this world.
4. deadly or implacable; relentless: a mortal enemy.
5. severe, dire, grievous, or bitter: in mortal fear.
6. causing or liable to cause death; fatal: a mortal wound.
7. to the death: mortal combat.
8. of or pertaining to death: the mortal hour.
9. involving spiritual death (opposed to venial): mortal sin.
10. long and wearisome.
11. extreme; very great: in a mortal hurry.
12. conceivable; possible: of no mortal value to the owners.
–noun 13. a human being.
14. the condition of being subject to death.


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[Origin: 1325–75; ME < L mortālis, equiv. to mort- (s. of mors) death