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hardly (iou)



hardly adverb1. ['h¨»:dli] ME.
[from HARD adjective + -LY2.]
With energy, force, or strenuous exertion; vigorously, forcibly, violently. ME-E19.
E. Topsell The Lamprey caught fast hold on his hand, biting hardly.
Boldly, daringly, hardily. ME-E17.
W. Painter Speake hardly thy minde.
Firmly. ME-L16.
With severity or rigour; harshly. E16.
R. Knolles The unconstant people..now began to speak hardly of him. W. Stebbing The honour and loyalty of the hardly-used veteran.
With trouble or hardship; uneasily, painfully. Now rare. M16.
Ld Macaulay What is made is slowly, hardly, and honestly earned.
Not easily, with difficulty. Long rare exc. as passing into sense 7. M16.
A. S. Byatt His self-effacement was a little strained, his security too hardly achieved.
Barely, only just; almost not; not quite; scarcely. M16.
D. H. Lawrence It was hardly to be borne. I. Murdoch I constantly try and hardly ever succeed! E. Feinstein It is hardly likely that he was still ignorant of the Reiss murder.
In close proximity, closely. rare. L16.
R. Knolles They were so hardly pursued.