MERCENARY


Meaning of MERCENARY in English

I. ˈmər-sə-ˌner-ē, -ne-rē noun

( plural -nar·ies )

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin mercenarius, irregular from merced-, merces wages — more at mercy

Date: 14th century

: one that serves merely for wages ; especially : a soldier hired into foreign service

II. 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 ˌmər-sə-ˈner-ə-lē, -ˈne-rə- adverb

• mer·ce·nar·i·ness ˈmər-sə-ˌner-ē-nəs, -ˌne-rē- noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.