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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hardely, Hardly, adv. Also: hardelly, -lie; herdely, -lie; hardalie; hardlie. [ME. hardely, herde-, harde-, hærdeliche (c 1205), f. harde Hard a., and hardli, -liche (c 1205), OE. heardlíce. A variant is Hardily. For the later senses, see Hardly.]

1. With force or energy; vigorously, violently, fiercely. = Hard adv. l (1). 1375 Barb. viii. 330.
The king … dang on thame so hardely Ib. x. 91.
Thai ruschit apon thame hardely c1420 Wynt. viii. 5362.
Full hardely Willame of Dowglas and his rowte Schot on thame scharply ?1438 Alex. ii. 4904.
How Cassamus … Embrased him full sturdely And him hint full hardely c1475 Wall. i. 415.
Ane othir on the arme he hitt so hardely Ib. vi. 238.
He … straik at the dure with his fute hardely 1535 Stewart 11978.
Thai … Vpon thair basnetis hardalie did hew a1540 Freiris Berw. 513.
Quhen I bid ȝow stryk, strek hardely Ib. 552.
Stryk, stryk herdely

2.With courage, valorously, valiantly. 1375 Barb. x. 704.
I herd neuir quhar in ane land Wes castell tane so hardely ?1438 Alex. ii. 4624.
Gif the tane bare him worthely, The tother bare him hardely c1475 Wall. vii. 1189.
At the forbreist thai prewit hardely a1586 Lindsay MS. 13.
Hardely and bauldly assaill thame

3. With self-confidence or assurance; audaciously, fearlessly, confidently, bold.(1) 1375 Barb. xi. 411.
Qwhen the gud king had herd his men Sa hardely him ansuer then c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1275.
Ageynes hys wordes Vlixes … Answerd and that rytht hardely c1420 Wynt. viii. 5681.
Lat thame cum hardely hym till And thai suld entre at thare will ?1438 Alex. ii. 3836.
Draw hardely! I say, eschesk! Ib. 5464.
Thow hes avowit outrageously And vndemous hardely c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 115.
To set sic thing … To fle the fendis, than hardely sing, De terra plasmasti me(b) 1535 Stewart 10057.
Ane lous lymmer … Full hardalie hes tane that thing on hand Ib. 24760.
Ane hundreth men … Rycht hardalie this tyme hes wndertane [etc.](c) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 332.
[May God] gyfe ws grace sa to do here That we hardly ma [a]ppere Befor hyme(2) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 264.
The first that evir put Scotland to confusioun Wes that fals tratour, hardely say I dar 1535 Stewart 33021.
This Kenethus … was the first, that dar I hardlie sa, In Albione that had monarchia Of tua kinrikis

b. Certainly, assuredly, by all means; hardly beid, hardly mot it be, so be it.(1) a1500 Seven S. 1750.
Than said the secound, ‘Schir, will ȝe I dreme this nycht?’ ‘Hardely’, said he(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1799.
‘Weill’, quod the Swallow, ‘Freindis, hardlie beid; Do as ye will’ c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiv. 68.
The Devill said, ‘Hardly mot it be, Exers that craft in all thy lyfe’ a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 598.
Gif of our fellowschip ȝou fasche, Gang with tham, hardlie beid