mercēnārĭus (in old MSS. written mercennarius), a, um, adj. [1. merces], that does any thing for reward or pay; hired for money, wages, or pay; paid, hired, mercenary (opp. to gratuitus, without pay, gratuitous).
- I. Adj.
- A. Of persons: comes, Cic. Pis. 21, 49: miles, Liv. 24, 49: testes, hired, bribed, Cic. Fam. 3, 11, 3: praetor, id. Verr. 2, 5, 21, § 54.
- B. Of inanim. and abstr. things: mercenaria arma, Liv. 30, 8: liberalitas gratuitane est, an mercenaria? Cic. Leg. 1, 18, 48: ancilla mercenariae stipis, Plin. 10, 63, 83, § 172: vincla, his hireling fetters, i. e. his salaried office of praeco, which kept him confined, Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 67.
- II. Subst.: mercēnārĭus, ii, m., a hireling, hired servant: tuus mercenarius, Plaut. Poen. 2, 1, 55: non male praecipiunt, qui ita jubent uti servis, ut mercenariis, Cic. Off. 1, 13, 41: illiberales et sordidi quaestus mercenariorum, id. ib. 1, 42, 150: Oppionici, id. Clu. 59, 163: servus perpetuus mercenarius est, i. e. eye-server, Sen. Ben. 3, 22, 1.