[scarce.ly] adv (14c) 1 a: by a narrow margin: only just "had ~ rung the bell when the door flew open --Agnes S. Turnbull" b: almost not "could ~ see for the fog"
2. a: certainly not "could ~ interfere between another man and his own beast --Owen Wister" b: probably not "there could ~ have been found a leader better equipped --V. L. Parrington"