c. 1200, "in a hard manner, with great exertion or effort," from Old English heardlice "sternly, severely, harshly; bravely; excessively" (see hard (adj.) + -ly (2)). Hence "assuredly, certainly" (early 14c.). Main modern sense of "barely, just" (1540s) reverses this, via the intermediate meaning "not easily, with trouble" (early 15c.). Formerly with superficial negative (not hardly). Similar formation in Old Saxon hardliko, German härtlich, Old Danish haardelig.
双语例句
1. The ward was busy and Amy hardly had time to talk.
病房里非常忙碌，埃米几乎没有时间说话。
来自柯林斯例句
2. My eyes were so swollen I could hardly see.
我的眼睛肿得很厉害，几乎看不到东西。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Their two faces were hardly more than eighteen inches apart.
他俩的脸相隔还不到18英寸。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Half-ruined, hardly a building untouched, it's a desolate place.
这里大半遭毁，几乎没有一栋建筑完好无损，变成了一块荒废之地。
来自柯林斯例句
5. He appeared hardly capable of conducting a coherent conversation.
