Scarce

Scarce
Scarce Scarce (sk[^a]rs), a. [Compar. {Scarcer} (sk[^a]r"s[~e]r); superl. {Scarcest}.] [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, excarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see {Ex-}) + carpere. See {Carpet}, and cf. {Excerp}.] 1. Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [1913 Webster]

You tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen one fifth in value. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a medallion well preserved. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

2. Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -- with of. [Obs.] ``A region scarce of prey.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. [Obs.] ``Too scarce ne too sparing.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

{To make one's self scarce}, to decamp; to depart. [Slang] [1913 Webster]

Syn: Rare; infrequent; deficient. See {Rare}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • scarce — [skeəs ǁ skers] adjective if something is scarce, there is not enough of it available: • Here, land is a scarce resource and house prices have risen sharply. • Jobs are scarce. scarcity noun [singular, uncountable] : • the present scarcity of… …   Financial and business terms

  • Scarce — Scarce, Scarcely Scarce ly, adv. 1. With difficulty; hardly; scantly; barely; but just. [1913 Webster] With a scarce well lighted flame. Milton. [1913 Webster] The eldest scarcely five year was of age. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Slowly she sails,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scarce — scarce·ly; scarce·ment; scarce·ness; scarce; …   English syllables

  • scarce — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of a resource) insufficient for the demand. 2) rarely found. ● make oneself scarce Cf. ↑make oneself scarce DERIVATIVES scarcity noun. ORIGIN O …   English terms dictionary

  • scarce — [skers] adj. scarcer, scarcest [ME scars < NormFr escars (for OFr eschars) < VL * escarpsus, for L excerptus, pp. of excerpere, to pick out, select (see EXCERPT); hence, that which is picked out and therefore scarce] 1. not common; rarely… …   English World dictionary

  • scarce — (adj.) c.1300, restricted in quantity, from O.N.Fr. scars (O.Fr. eschars) from V.L. *escarpsus, from *excarpere pluck out, from L. excerpere pluck out (see EXCERPT (Cf. excerpt)). Phrase to make oneself scarce go away first attested 1809 in Gil… …   Etymology dictionary

  • scarce — I adjective at a premium, dear, deficient, few, inadequate, incomplete, inconsiderable, insufficient, limited, little, low, meager, minute, not abundant, not plentiful, out of the way, paltry, rare, rarus, scant, seldom met with, short, skimpy,… …   Law dictionary

  • scarce — rare, uncommon, *infrequent, occasional, sporadic Analogous words: *deficient: curtailed, abridged, shortened (see SHORTEN) Antonyms: abundant …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • scarce — [adj] insufficient, infrequent at a premium, deficient, failing, few, few and far between*, in short supply, limited, occasional, rare, scant, scanty, seldom, seldom met with, semioccasional, short, shortened, shy, sparse, sporadic, truncated,… …   New thesaurus

  • scarce|ly — «SKAIRS lee», adverb. 1. not quite; barely: »I can scarcely hear your voice. We could scarcely see the ship through the thick fog. SYNONYM(S): See syn. under hardly. (Cf. ↑hardly) 2. decidedly not: »He can scarcely have said that …   Useful english dictionary

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