mercenaries

Meanings

• noun

  A person who serves as a soldier in the army of a foreign power, hired rather than conscripted.

  - "The mercenaries were hired to protect the king's gold."
  - "Mercenaries have been used throughout history to bolster armies in times of war."
  - "Some mercenaries work for private security firms to protect civilians in conflict zones."

• noun

  A person who sells a skill or service, especially one that involves risk, for money; a freelance.

  - "He is a mercenary writer, selling his articles to various publications."
  - "Many IT professionals have become mercenaries, moving from project to project for higher pay."
  - "Some mercenary artists travel from town to town, painting portraits for a fee."

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with mercenaries
jarenies , arenas , arenas , adrenalines , apothecaries

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Variants

List of all variants of mercenaries that leads to same result
mercenaries , mercenary

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French mercenier, from merces 'rewards, wages' + -ier 'servant, attendant'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'mercenary' comes from the Latin word merces, which means 'reward' or 'wages'.

2. Mercenaries have been used in almost every major conflict throughout history, including the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War, and the American Revolution.

3. The largest recorded mercenary army was the Spanish Tercios, which numbered over 30,000 men in the late 16th century.

4. The first recorded use of mercenaries in Europe was during the Hundred Years' War between England and France in the 14th century.

5. Mercenaries have been used in modern times for peacekeeping missions, such as in the former Yugoslavia and in Somalia.

6. The term 'mercenary' has also been used figuratively to describe someone who performs a service for payment, such as a lawyer or a doctor.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Mercenary companies: Organized groups of mercenaries that were commonly used during the Early Modern period. Some of the most famous mercenary companies include the Swiss Guard, the Papal Swiss Guard, and the Janissaries.

2. Private military companies: Modern-day organizations that provide military services to governments and other clients. Examples include Blackwater USA, Academi, and DynCorp International.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Mercenaries have been a part of human history since ancient times, with recorded use dating back to the Roman Republic. They have been depicted in various forms of literature, art, and music. In literature, mercenaries have been portrayed as heroic figures, such as in the novel 'The Mercenary' by Roger Fechtman, or as villains, such as in the film 'The Mercenary' by John Boorman. In art, mercenaries have been depicted in various forms, including statues and paintings. In music, there are several songs about mercenaries, such as 'Mercenary Man' by Bob Dylan and 'The Mercenary Song' by The Clash.

How to Memorize "mercenaries"

1. visualize
   

   - To visualize mercenaries, imagine a group of soldiers in armor, carrying weapons and traveling from place to place to fight for hire.

2. associate
   

   - To remember mercenaries, associate them with the idea of being paid for services rendered, such as a soldier for hire or a freelance worker.

3. mnemonics
   

   - To memorize mercenaries, use the acronym M-E-R-C-E-N-A-R-I-E-S: 'M' for mercenaries, 'E' for employed, 'R' for reward, 'C' for contract, 'E' for elite, 'N' for neutral, 'A' for armed, 'R' for risky, 'I' for independent, and 'E' for efficient.'

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