adv.
Function: adverb
Date: 14th century
1 a : by a narrow margin : only just <had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open ― Agnes S. Turnbull> b : almost not <could scarcely see for the fog>
2 a : certainly not <could scarcely interfere> b : probably not <there could scarcely have been found a leader better equipped ― V. L. Parrington>