barely

adv
/ˈbɛə(ɹ).li/UK/ˈbɛɹ.li/US

Etymology

From Middle English baarly, bareliche, barely, barly, from Old English bærlīċe, equivalent to bare + -ly. Compare Danish bare (“only, just”), Norwegian bare (“only, just”).

  1. inherited from bærlīċe
  2. inherited from baarly

Definitions

  1. By a small margin.

    • I barely completed my homework. However, I got a score of 5 for it.
    • It becomes, therefore, no inconsiderable part of science barely to know the different operations of mind,
    • 1925, Walter Anthony and Tom Reed (titles), Rupert Julian (director), The Phantom of the Opera, silent movie ‘It is barely possible you may hear of a ghost, a Phantom of the Opera!’
  2. Almost not at all.

    • The plane is so far away now I can barely see it.
    • Yes, it is barely visible.
    • In contrast to what was to come, City were barely allowed any time to settle on the ball in the opening exchanges, with Ashley Young prominent and drawing heavy fouls from Micah Richards and James Milner.
  3. Recently, just now.

    • I barely got to the store.
  4. + 2 more definitions
    1. Merely.

      • Now that fire do's not alwayes barely separate the Elementary parts, but sometimes at least alter also the Ingredients of Bodies […]
    2. Openly, clearly, plainly.

      • Firſt here is the Reſurrection of our Saviour barely and poſitively affirmed, whom God hath raiſed up.
      • Remember, I haven’t tried to embroider; I’m just laying the facts barely before you—as barely as I can—to make what you please out of.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at barely. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01barely02almost03except04stated05expressed06express07implied08hinted09hint

A definitional loop anchored at barely. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

9 hops · closes at barely

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA