Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

mercenary

1. mer.ce.nary \'m*rs-*n-.er-e-\ n [ME, fr. L mercenarius, fr. merced-, 
   merces wages - more at] MERCY : one that serves merely for wages; esp : a 
   soldier hired into for eign service
2. mercenary aj 1: serving merely for pay or sordid advantage : VENAL; also 
    : GREEDY 2: hired for service in the army of a foreign country