different between narrowly vs hardly

English

Etymology

From Middle English narowly, equivalent to narrow +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n??o?li/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?næ???li/
• (Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA^(key): /?næ?o?li/

Adverb

narrowly (comparative more narrowly, superlative most narrowly)

1. In a narrow manner; without flexibility or latitude.

   They regarded the new idea rather narrowly.
2. By a narrow margin; closely.

   They narrowly escaped collision.

   • 1859, George Meredith, The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, Chapter 13:

     One inconsequent dream he related, about fancying himself quite young and rich, and finding himself suddenly in a field cropping razors around him, when, just as he had, by steps dainty as those of a French dancing-master, reached the middle, he to his dismay beheld a path clear of the blood, thirsty steel-crop, which he might have taken at first had he looked narrowly; and there he was.

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English hardely, hardliche, from Old English heardl??e (“boldly; hardily; without ease; in a way that causes pain; not easily; only by degrees”), equivalent to hard +? -ly. Compare Dutch hardelijk, German härtlich.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?h??dli/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?h??dli/,

Adverb

hardly (comparative hardlier or more hardly, superlative hardliest or most hardly)

1. (manner, obsolete) Firmly, vigorously, with strength or exertion.
   • , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.148:

     Let him hardly be possest with an honest curiositie to search out the nature and causes of all things […].
2. (manner, archaic) Harshly, severely; in a hard manner.

3. (now rare) With difficulty.
   • , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.234:

     And what gentle flame soever doth warme the heart of young virgins, yet are they hardly drawne to leave and forgoe their mothers, to betake them to their husbands […].

   • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, page 40:

     While in Chelsea, Anne Smiley pined, taking very hardly to her unaccustomed role of wife abandoned.

4. (degree) Barely, only just, almost not.

Usage notes

• In the modern sense "barely", it is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never.
  • Compare example sentence with I almost never watch television
  • Because of the anomalous sense of this word, expressions such as "hardly working" have an opposite meaning to what the etymology ("hard" + "-ly") would suggest. "Working hard" suggests that considerable work is being done, whereas "hardly working" suggests that very little work is being done.

Synonyms

• (barely, almost not or not quite): barely, just, only just, scarcely

Translations

Interjection

hardly

1. Not really.

   I think the Beatles are a really overrated band. ? Hardly!