When someone says,
I barely understand that.
Does he mean:
- He almost doesn't understand [which means he understands a bit]
- He almost understands [which means he doesn't understand]
Or if someone says:
Your brain is barely used.
Does he mean:
- Your brain is almost not used [which means, it is used, but very rarely]
- Your brain is almost used [which means it isn't]
I used to think that it was the first option. But a friend, out of the blue, said it was the second one.
Which one is it? Or have my friend and I got it entirely wrong?
Are there other words with similar meanings to barely? Is nearly one of them?