Origin: French suffix -ier
Soldier has 6 different meanings across 3 categories:
Noun · Verb · Proper Noun
a wingless sterile ant or termite having a large head and powerful jaws adapted for defending the colony
"The gardener carefully swept away the soldier ants before they could use their massive heads to defend the queen's nest."
A member of an army, of any rank.
"After years of service as a soldier, he finally received his discharge medals today."
In plain English: A soldier is a person who fights for an army during a war.
"The soldier stood at attention during the parade."
serve as a soldier in the military
"After graduating from basic training, he finally fulfilled his promise to serve as a soldier in the military."
To continue steadfast; to keep striving.
"He soldiered on through the long winter despite his exhaustion, refusing to give up on his goal."
In plain English: To soldier means to keep going with determination even when things are difficult.
"The general ordered his troops to soldier forward across the field."
Usage: Use this verb when describing someone who persists in an effort or cause with unwavering determination, often implying endurance through hardship. It is typically followed by the preposition on, as in soldiering on during a difficult project.
A tiny city in Monona County, Iowa.
"After visiting the historic capital of Keokuk, we drove south to Soldier for a quick stop at its local general store."
The word soldier comes from the Latin solidus, which was originally a type of coin used to pay mercenaries. It entered English through Old French and Middle English, replacing an older Germanic term that had fallen out of use.