Hard″ly (härd″ly̆), adv. [AS. heardlice. See Hard.]
1. In a hard or difficult manner; with difficulty.
Recovering hardly what he lost before. Dryden.
2. Unwillingly; grudgingly.
The House of Peers gave so hardly their consent. Milton.
3. Scarcely; barely; not quite; not wholly.
Hardly shall you find any one so bad, but he desires the credit of being thought good. South.
4. Severely; harshly; roughly.
He has in many things been hardly used. Swift.
5. Confidently; hardily. Holland.
6. Certainly; surely; indeed. Chaucer.