Hard"ly (härd"l&ybreve;), adv. [AS. heardlice. See Hard.]

1. In a hard or difficult manner; with difficulty.

Recovering hardly what he lost before.

2. Unwillingly; grudgingly.

The House of Peers gave so hardly their consent.

3. Scarcely; barely; not quite; not wholly.

Hardly shall you find any one so bad, but he desires the credit of being thought good.

4. Severely; harshly; roughly.

He has in many things been hardly used.

5. Confidently; hardily. [Obs.] Holland.

6. Certainly; surely; indeed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

• barely, just, almost not
  
• harshly, severely