Mercenary — Defs

01 a. Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.

1.
Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.
2.
Moved primarily by considerations of pay or profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish.
“For God forbid I should my papers blot With mercenary lines, with servile pen.” — Daniel.

Syn. See Venal.

02 n. One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service.

pl. Mercenaries

1.
One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service.