different between mercenary vs wolfish

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin merc?n?rius (“hired for money”), from merc?s (“reward, wages, price”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m??.s?.n?.?i/, /?m??.s?n.?i/
• (General American) enPR: mûr?s?-n?r'?, IPA^(key): /?m?s??n??i/
• Hyphenation: mer?ce?na?ry

Noun

mercenary (plural mercenaries)

1. (archaic) One motivated by gain, especially monetary.
2. A person employed to fight in an armed conflict who is not a member of the state or military group for which they are fighting and whose primary motivation is private gain.
3. (figuratively) One hired to engage in a figurative battle, as a corporate takeover, a lawsuit, or a political campaign.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:mercenary

Hyponyms

• condottiere, freelance, gallowglass, Landsknecht, lansquenet, Mamertine, routier, turcopole

Translations

Adjective

mercenary (comparative more mercenary, superlative most mercenary)

1. Motivated by private gain.

Synonyms

• (motivated by private gain): greedy, venal
• (hired for a figurative battle): hired gun

Translations

See also

• soldier

Further reading

• mercenary at OneLook Dictionary Search
• mercenary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

wolf +? -ish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?w?lfi?/, /?w?lvi?/
• Homophone: Woolfish

Adjective

wolfish (comparative more wolfish, superlative most wolfish)

1. Pertaining to wolves.
2. Having the characteristics or habits of a wolf.
   • 1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 1,^[1]

     “ […] Here, Fangs! Fangs!” he ejaculated at the top of his voice to a ragged wolfish-looking dog […]

   a wolfish appetite

3. Fierce; savage; menacing.

Synonyms

• (pertaining to wolves): lupine
• (having the characteristics of a wolf): lupine, wolfy, wolflike

Translations

Anagrams

• fish owl, fowlish