Hardly

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈhɑːdli/

Definitions

1. To an insignificant degree or almost not at all, reflecting minimal occurrence or extent
2. In a manner that conveys rarity or a very limited amount, indicating something is scarcely present
3. To a minimal extent or degree, suggesting something is almost absent or hardly happens

Etymology: The adverb "hardly" carries an old meaning that has nearly vanished: in Old English, "heardlīċe" could mean "boldly" or "bravely," and the word was tied to hardness and difficulty. Its earliest senses included "without ease" and "only by degrees," and it could describe something done painfully or with effort. Over the Middle English period, the form narrowed toward the sense of "with difficulty," and that idea of effort slowly turned into the modern notion of scarcely or barely achieving something. The word is a straightforward formation: "hard" with the adverbial suffix "-ly," which turned an adjective into a description of manner. Its spelling and form shifted through Middle English (hardely, hardliche) before settling into the modern shape. Dutch "hardelijk" and German "härtlich" show the same pattern of adjective plus adverbial ending.

Synonyms: barely, scarcely, almost not

Antonyms: easily, readily