Hardly \Hard"ly\, adv. [AS. heardlice. See Hand.]

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 thei? consent. --Milton.

3. Scarcely; barely; not guite; not wholly.

Hardly shall you 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. [Obs.]

--Holland.

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

--Chaucer.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)