Mer"ce*na*ry (?), a. [OE. mercenarie, F. mercenaire, fr. L. mercenarius, fr. merces wages, reward. See Mercy.]

1.

Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.

2.

Hence: Moved by considerations of pay or profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish.

Shak.

For God forbid I should my papers blot With mercenary lines, with servile pen. Daniel.

Syn. -- See Venal.

 

© Webster 1913.


Mer"ce*na*ry (?), n.; pl. Mercenaries ().

One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service.

Milman.

 

© Webster 1913.