Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. The state or condition of being mercenary

Ancestry of “mercenariness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmercenaryOne motivated by gain, especially monetary; A...
2Latinmercenariushired for pay; mercenary
3Latinmercespay, wages, reward; rent; bribe
4Latinmerxmerchandise, commodity; goods, wares
5Proto-Italic*merks—
Every word from Proto-Italic *merks →