HARDLY ANY Meaning and
Definition
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"Hardly any" is a phrase used to indicate a small or negligible quantity or amount of something, implying that there is a scarcity or lack of it. It is commonly used to express the concept of shortage, rarity, or insignificance.
The term "hardly" refers to a near absence or almost non-existence, while "any" suggests an absence of quantity or lack of something particular. When these two words are combined, they create the notion that there is barely even a small amount of the subject being discussed.
For instance, if someone says, "There are hardly any books on that topic," it means that there are very few or scarce books available on that specific subject. Similarly, the statement "There was hardly any rain today" indicates that there was almost no rain or very little precipitation throughout the day.
"Hardly any" can also be used in a negative context to imply that there is an absence of certain attributes, qualities, or characteristics. For example, if someone says, "There are hardly any drawbacks to this plan," it suggests that there are very few disadvantages or negative aspects associated with the plan.
In summary, "hardly any" is a phrase used to convey the concept of scarcity, rarity, or insignificance, indicating that there is a minimal or negligible quantity or amount of something.
Common Misspellings for HARDLY ANY
- gardly any
- bardly any
- nardly any
- jardly any
- uardly any
- yardly any
- hzrdly any
- hsrdly any
- hwrdly any
- hqrdly any
- haedly any
- haddly any
- hafdly any
- hatdly any
- ha5dly any
- ha4dly any
- harsly any
- harxly any
- harcly any
- harfly any
Etymology of HARDLY ANY
The word hardly is derived from the Middle English word hardliche, which combines hard (meaning with difficulty or scarcely) and -liche (an adverbial suffix meaning like or in such a way). Hardly came into use in the 14th century. The word any, on the other hand, originated from the Middle English word eni, which has Old English and Old High German origins. Over time, eni evolved into any and started being used in the 15th century. When the words hardly and any are combined, they form the phrase hardly any, meaning scarcely any or very few.
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