Question

Read this line from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly and hardly that I felt the palpitation of every artery; at others, I nearly sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness. Which definition of hardly is most likely suited for this line? Early 16th Century: With trouble or hardship Middle English—Early 19th Century: With energy or force Middle 16th Century: Barely, only just; not quite Middle 16th Century: Not easily

Answer 1

With energy or force

Step-by-step explanation:

One is able to see that hardly in this context means with a lot of energy because the other word describing the beat was rapidly.

Answer 2

The correct answer is with energy or force.
The Middle English - Early 19th Century English definition of the word hardly fits the excerpt above best. The author is trying to say that the character's heart beat so fast and in such a powerful manner that he could almost feel the beat and vibrations even outside the body.