The Only Use of
mercenary
in
The Scarlet Letter
- This body of soldiery—which still sustains a corporate existence, and marches down from past ages with an ancient and honourable fame—was composed of no mercenary materials.†
p. 158.6
Definitions:
-
(1)
(mercenary as in: a mercenary soldier) a person hired to fight for a country other than their own
-
(2)
(mercenary as in: a mercenary attitude) motivated by making money or other personal advantage