(adv) only a very short time before; ; ; ; ; - W.B.Yeats, Syn. scarcely, scarce, just, hardly, Example:they could barely hear the speaker; we hardly knew them; just missed being hit; had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open; would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
adv. 1. Without covering; nakedly. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Without concealment or disguise. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. Merely; only. [ 1913 Webster ]
R. For now his son is duke. W.Barely in title, not in revenue. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. But just; without any excess; with nothing to spare (of quantity, time, etc.); hence, scarcely; hardly; as, there was barely enough for all; he barely escaped. [ 1913 Webster ]