mercantilelyadv.
/ˈməːk(ə)ntʌɪlli/, U.S. /ˈmərkənˌti(l)li/, /ˈmərkənˌtaɪ(l)li/, /ˈmərkəntlli/ From a mercantile point of view; with regard to business transactions.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > [adverb]
mercantilely1778
commerciallya1797
1778 J.-B. Ternant Let. 4 Sept. in D. R. Hoth Papers George Washington (Revolutionary War Series) (2006) XVI. 521 I am..sensible of the necessity..of the dangerous impropriety of lavishing it [sc. rank] to men mercantilely or otherwise civily employed in the Staff departments.
1827 Examiner 15 July 433/1 It is, mercantilely speaking, not obvious how a present expense can be met by merely possible funds.
1859 P. Fitzgerald in Househ. Words 29 Jan. 212/2 He has been working officially and mercantilely.
1901 I. K. Friedman By Bread Alone xxxiv. 400 He was steady enough; mercantilely active enough; possessed of common if not of uncommon sense.
1984 RAIN No. 65. 5/2 Over the last centuries, since exploration became a nautically possible, mercantilely rewarding, and epistemologically satisfying pursuit.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1778