[Fr. à la mort to the death: as elle estoit chargée à la mort Palissy (16th c.). Formerly quite naturalized; now often treated as Fr. Sometimes corrupted to all amort (cf. al a mode, all agog); and at length AMORT was occasionally used without al or all, being taken as = Fr. à mort ‘to death.’]
1. adv. To the death, mortally.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, 155. I drooping passe as one stroke alemort.
1725. in Biblioth. Biblica, III. 142. The Raven ominous (as Gentiles holde), What time she croaketh hoarsely a la morte.
1833. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), II. 479. The combat à la mort was of their own beginning.
2. adj. Sick to death, mortally sick; dispirited.
1592. Lilly, Midas, V. ii. 60. How now, Motto, all a-mort?
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iii. 36. What sweeting all-mort?
a. 1658. Cleveland, Gen. Eclipse, vii.
| Thus ’tis a General Eclipse, | |
| The whole World is al-a-mort. | |
| Ibid., Content, 24. | |
| And make each day a history of sin? | |
| Drink th’ A la mort Sun down and up agen? |
1700. Dryden, Wife of Bath’s T., 340. Mirth there was none, the man was ‘a-la-mort.’
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), I. xvi. 107. Ah my poor boy! Thus alamort!
1820. Keats, St. Agnes, viii. She sighs … all amort.
