n.
Function: adjective
Date: 1532
1 : serving merely for pay or sordid advantage : VENAL also : GREEDY
2 : hired for service in the army of a foreign country
– mer · ce · nar · i · ly \ ˌ m ə r-s ə - ' ner- ə -l ē , - ' ne-r ə - \ adverb
– mer · ce · nar · i · ness \ ' m ə r-s ə - ˌ ner- ē -n ə s, - ˌ ne-r ē - \ noun