mercenario
/meɾθeˈnaɾjo/ · B2 · adj
hired
💰⚔️ mercenario ~ merces (Latin: pay, wages) + -ario: one who acts for pay
Spanish mercenario comes from Latin mercenarius, built on merces, meaning wage or reward. Same root as mercy-adjacent merchant and commerce words: the focus is on doing something for payment, whether fighting or just chasing money.