mercenary



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Mercenary \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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence: Moved primarily by considerations of pay or profit;
      greedy of gain; sordid; selfish. --Shak.
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            For God forbid I should my papers blot
            With mercenary lines, with servile pen. --Daniel.
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   Syn: See Venal.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Mercenary \Mer"ce*na*ry\, n.; pl. Mercenaries.
   One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired
   into foreign service. --Milman.
   [1913 Webster]














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