Scarce
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈskÉ›Ës/
- US IPA: /ˈskɛɚs/
Origin
From Northern Old French scars, escars ( >
French échars), from Late Latin *scarsus, probably originally a participle form of *excarpere ("take out"), from Latin ex- + carpere.
Full definition of scarce
Adjective
scarce
- Uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand.
- John LockeYou tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen one fifth in value.
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 3, My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.
- Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); used with of.
- John MiltonA region scarce of prey.
Adverb
scarce
- (now literary, archaic) Scarcely, only just.
- MiltonWith a scarce well-lighted flame.
- 1854, Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven:And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure that I heard you ....
- 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4:Yet had I scarce set foot in the passage when I stopped, remembering how once already this same evening I had played the coward, and run home scared with my own fears.
- 1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Vintage 1993, p. 122:Upon the barred and slitted wall the splotched shadow of the heaven tree shuddered and pulsed monstrously in scarce any wind.