Law of mortality

Mortality Mor*tal"i*ty, n. [L. mortalitas: cf. F. mortalit['e].] 1. The condition or quality of being mortal; subjection to death or to the necessity of dying. [1913 Webster]

When I saw her die, I then did think on your mortality. --Carew. [1913 Webster]

2. Human life; the life of a mortal being. [1913 Webster]

From this instant There 's nothing serious in mortality. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Those who are, or that which is, mortal; the human race; humanity; human nature. [1913 Webster]

Take these tears, mortality's relief. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

4. Death; destruction. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. The whole sum or number of deaths in a given time or a given community; also, the proportion of deaths to population, or to a specific number of the population; death rate; as, a time of great, or low, mortality; the mortality among the settlers was alarming. [1913 Webster]

{Bill of mortality}. See under {Bill}.

{Law of mortality}, a mathematical relation between the numbers living at different ages, so that from a given large number of persons alive at one age, it can be computed what number are likely to survive a given number of years.

{Table of mortality}, a table exhibiting the average relative number of persons who survive, or who have died, at the end of each year of life, out of a given number supposed to have been born at the same time. [1913 Webster]