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