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

Of the definitions of hardly presented, the most likely suited for the presented line would be the one from Middle English - Early 19th Century: with energy or force. The key in determining the most likely suited definition would be the phrase after the word which is "that I felt the palpitation of every artery". Another one would be substituting the definition to the word and read the sentence all over again and see if the sentence still makes sense as the original one. The first one would come close, but not as much as the 2nd one.