---
title: mercenary — Judaism dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mercenary» in the Judaism dictionary: A soldier who fights for any country or group that pays them, not for their own country. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mercenary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** soldier, group, king, mercenaries, He, villain · **What happens:** fight, pay, interest, not be, be, defend · **To what, where:** country, money, mercenaries, castle, sides, gold

<!-- .vabout -->
«mercenary» in the Judaism dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [mercenary in the Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/mercenary.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A soldier who fights for any country or group that pays them, not for their own country.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:m1:1
# text = A soldier who fights for any country or group that pays them, not for their own country.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	fights	fight	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	pays	pay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
17	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight** | present | a soldier |  |  |  |  | for any country or group | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **pay** | present | group | country |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Asset |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Interested only in money, not in being kind or fair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:m2:1
# text = Interested only in money, not in being kind or fair.
1	Interested	interest	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	parataxis	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interest** | participle |  |  |  | money |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king paid mercenaries to defend the castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:x1:1
# text = The king paid mercenaries to defend the castle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	mercenaries	mercenary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | the king | mercenaries |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mercenary=Asset |
| 2 | **defend** | to-infinitive | the king *not said here* | the castle |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent castle=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mercenaries changed sides when offered more gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:x2:1
# text = The mercenaries changed sides when offered more gold.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mercenaries	mercenary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
6	offered	offer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	_
7	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | the mercenaries | sides |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **offer** | participle | the mercenaries *not said here* | gold |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent gold=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He only helps if he gets paid — so mercenary!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:x3:1
# text = He only helps if he gets paid — so mercenary!
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	gets	get	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
8	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	mercenary	mercenary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | He | mercenary |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **pay** *a condition, not said to happen* | present · passive |  | he |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Asset |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story's villain led a mercenary army.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:x4:1
# text = The story's villain led a mercenary army.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	mercenary	mercenary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | the story's villain | a mercenary army |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent army=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mercenary fights for money, not for loyalty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:x5:1
# text = A mercenary fights for money, not for loyalty.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	mercenary	mercenary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	fights	fight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	loyalty	loyalty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be mercenary; help your friend for free.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:x6:1
# text = Don't be mercenary; help your friend for free.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	mercenary	mercenary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | infinitive |  | mercenary |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **help** | infinitive |  |  | your friend |  |  | for free | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
German mercenaries, in the Neapolitan service, kept guard, played cards, and diced; and a troop of strangers from beyond the mountains came into the town, accompanied by a sentry.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:mercenary:x7:1
# text = German mercenaries, in the Neapolitan service, kept guard, played cards, and diced; and a troop of strangers from beyond the mountains came into the town, accompanied by a sentry.
1	German	German	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	mercenaries	mercenary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Neapolitan	Neapolitan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
12	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	diced	dice	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	27	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	troop	troop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nmod	_	_
23	from	from	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
24	beyond	beyond	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nmod	_	_
27	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	parataxis	_	_
28	into	into	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
32	accompanied	accompany	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	27	conj	_	_
33	by	by	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
34	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
35	sentry	sentry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play** | past | German mercenaries and the Neapolitan service and kept guard | cards |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Theme |
| 3 | **dice** | participle | German mercenaries and the Neapolitan service and kept guard *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **come** | past | a troop of strangers from the mountains |  |  | the town |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme into town=Initial\_Location |
| 5 | **accompany** | participle | a troop of strangers from the mountains *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by a sentry | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent by sentry=Destination |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the Judaism dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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