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Barely vs Somewhat - What's the difference?

barely | somewhat |

In archaic|lang=en terms the difference between barely and somewhat

is that barely is (archaic) merely while somewhat is (archaic) something.

As adverbs the difference between barely and somewhat

is that barely is (degree) by a small margin while somewhat is to a limited extent or degree.

As a pronoun somewhat is

(archaic) something.

As a noun somewhat is

more or less; a certain quantity or degree; a part, more or less; something.

barely

English

Adverb

(-)
  • (degree) By a small margin.
  • * 1748 , , Oxford University Press (1973), section 8:
    • It becomes, therefore, no inconsiderable part of science barely to know the different operations of mind,
  • * 1925 , Walter Anthony and Tom Reed (titles), Rupert Julian (director), The Phantom of the Opera , silent movie
    • ‘It is barely possible you may hear of a ghost, a Phantom of the Opera!’
  • (degree) Almost not at all.
    • The plane is so far away now I can barely see it.
    Yes, it is barely visible.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
    • , date=October 23 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Man Utd 1 - 6 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=In contrast to what was to come, City were barely allowed any time to settle on the ball in the opening exchanges, with Ashley Young prominent and drawing heavy fouls from Micah Richards and James Milner.}}
  • (archaic) merely.
  • * 1661 , , page 29,
    • Now that fire do's not alwayes barely separate the Elementary parts, but sometimes at least alter also the Ingredients of Bodies

    Usage notes

    It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. * Compare You can find barely ever used items on eBay.'' with ''You can almost never find used items on eBay.

    Synonyms

    * (degree) hardly, scarcely * hardly, just, only just, scarcely

    Anagrams

    * English degree adverbs

    somewhat

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (qualifier) summat (and variants listed there)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • To a limited extent or degree.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.}}

    See also

    * slightly

    Pronoun

    (English Pronouns)
  • (archaic) Something.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.12:
    • Proceeding to the midst he stil did stand, / As if in minde he somewhat had to say […].
  • * Robert Trail
    • But this text and theme I am upon, relates to somewhat far higher and greater, than all the beholdings of his glory that ever any saint on earth received.
  • * 1851 , Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
    • Not seldom in this life, when, on the right side, fortune's favourites sail close by us, we, though all adroop before, catch somewhat of the rushing breeze, and joyfully feel our bagging sails fill out.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • More or less; a certain quantity or degree; a part, more or less; something.
  • * Grew
    • These salts have somewhat of a nitrous taste.
  • * Dryden
    • Somewhat of his good sense will suffer, in this transfusion, and much of the beauty of his thoughts will be lost.
  • A person or thing of importance; a somebody.
  • * Tennyson
    • Here come those that worship me. / They think that I am somewhat .

    Statistics

    * English degree adverbs English hedges