scarcely

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   Probably not.

   One could scarcely find any trout in the stream without the stocking program.

2. 2
   adv

   Certainly not, hardly at all.

   One could scarcely expect the man to know how to fly a helicopter.

3. 3
   adv

   Hardly: only just; by a small margin.

   Scarcely had she arrived when she was put to work.

4. 4
   adv

   only a very short time before

5. 5
   adv

   almost not

Etymology

From Middle English scarcely, scarsly, scarsely, scarsliche, scarseliche, equivalent to scarce + -ly.