Merce

‖n. [ NL. See Mercenary. ] (Zool.) The quahog. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A mercenary. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a mercenary manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being mercenary; venality. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Mercenaries One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Moved primarily by considerations of pay or profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

For God forbid I should my papers blot
With mercenary lines, with servile pen. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Venal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. mercier, fr. L. merx, mercis, wares, merchandise. See Merchant. ] Originally, a dealer in any kind of goods or wares; now restricted to a dealer in textile fabrics, as silks or woolens. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. -ized p. pr. & vb. n. -izing ] [ From (John) Mercer (1791-1866), an English calico printer who introduced the process + -ize. ] To treat (cotton fiber or fabrics) with a solution of caustic alkali. Such treatment causes the fiber to shrink in length and become stronger and more receptive of dyes. If the yarn or cloth is kept under tension during the process, it assumes a silky luster. -- Mer`cer*i*za"tion n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]