soldier Hear it!

soldier definition

sol·dier (sōljər)

noun

  1. a person serving in an army; member of an army
    1. an enlisted person, as distinguished from one holding a warrant or commission
    2. any low-ranking member of a Mafia family
  2. one who has much military experience or military skill
  3. a person who works zealously for a specified cause
  4. an ant or termite of a caste having an enlarged head and jaws and serving as fighters in defense of the colony

Etymology: ME soldiour < OFr soldier < solde, coin, pay < LL solidus: see solidus

intransitive verb

  1. to serve as a soldier
  2. to proceed stubbornly or doggedly: usually with on
  3. to shirk one's duty, as by making a pretense of working, feigning illness, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Related Discussions (1)
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Old English Heremann ; Hererinc "soldier"64 years ago

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