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.

Syn. -- See Venal.

Mer"ce*na*ry (?), n.; pl. Mercenaries (&?;). One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service. Milman.

• A soldier who fights for money