unmercenary
|un-mer-ce-na-ry|
🇺🇸
/ˌʌnˈmɝsənɛri/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌnˈmɜːsənəri/
not motivated by pay; not mercenary
Etymology
'unmercenary' originates from English, formed from the prefix 'un-' and the adjective 'mercenary'; 'mercenary' ultimately comes from Latin 'mercenarius', where 'merces' meant 'pay, reward'.
'mercenary' changed from Latin 'mercenarius' (meaning 'pertaining to wages') into Old French 'mercenaire' and then into Middle English 'mercenary'; the modern English formation 'unmercenary' adds the productive negative prefix 'un-' to create the meaning 'not mercenary'.
Initially, 'mercenary' meant 'pertaining to wages; hired for pay'; over time 'mercenary' gained the sense 'motivated by money', and 'unmercenary' developed to mean 'not motivated by money; disinterested'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not mercenary; not motivated by desire for gain or monetary reward; disinterested or unselfish.
Her unmercenary devotion to the cause won her widespread respect.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/21 02:37