mercenary
|mer/ce/nar/y|
🇺🇸
/ˈmɜːrsəˌneri/
🇬🇧
/ˈmɜːsənəri/
hired for money
Etymology
'mercenary' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'mercenarius,' where 'merces' meant 'wages' or 'reward.'
'mercenarius' transformed into the Old French word 'mercenaire,' and eventually became the modern English word 'mercenary.'
Initially, it meant 'a person who works for wages,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a soldier for hire.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.
The mercenary was hired to fight in the conflict overseas.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics.
His mercenary motives were clear when he demanded more money.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/20 10:51