Mer"ce*na*ry (?), n.; pl.
Mercenaries (?). One who is hired; a
hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service.
Milman.
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.
2. Hence: Moved by considerations of pay or
profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish. Shak.
For God forbid I should my papers blot
With mercenary lines, with servile pen.
Daniel.
Syn. -- See Venal.