Where does “mercenariness” come from?
mercenariness (English) comes from English mercenary, from Latin mercenarius, from Latin merces, from Latin merx, from Proto-Italic *merks.
mercenariness (English): The state or condition of being mercenary
Definitions
- The state or condition of being mercenary
Ancestry of “mercenariness”, step by step
mercenariness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English mercenary
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mercenary | One motivated by gain, especially monetary; A... |
| 2 | Latin | mercenarius | hired for pay; mercenary |
| 3 | Latin | merces | pay, wages, reward; rent; bribe |
| 4 | Latin | merx | merchandise, commodity; goods, wares |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | *merks | — |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |