hardlyadv.[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.)