Scarce (skârs), a.
[Compar. Scarcer (skâr"s&etilde;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.
You tell him silver is scarcer now in England,
and therefore risen one fifth in value.
Locke.
The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a
medallion well preserved.
Addison.
2. Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -
- with of. [Obs.] "A region scarce of prey."
Milton.
3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious;
stingy. [Obs.] "Too scarce ne too sparing."
Chaucer.
To make one's self scarce, to decamp; to
depart. [Slang]
Syn. -- Rare; infrequent; deficient. See Rare.
{ Scarce, Scarce"ly }, adv.
1. With difficulty; hardly; scantly; barely; but
just.
With a scarce well-lighted flame.
Milton.
The eldest scarcely five year was of
age.
Chaucer.
Slowly she sails, and scarcely stems the
tides.
Dryden.
He had scarcely finished, when the laborer
arrived who had been sent for my ransom.
W.
Irving.
2. Frugally; penuriously. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Scarce (skârs), a.
[Compar. Scarcer (skâr"s&etilde;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.
You tell him silver is scarcer now in England,
and therefore risen one fifth in value.
Locke.
The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a
medallion well preserved.
Addison.
2. Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -
- with of. [Obs.] "A region scarce of prey."
Milton.
3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious;
stingy. [Obs.] "Too scarce ne too sparing."
Chaucer.
To make one's self scarce, to decamp; to
depart. [Slang]
Syn. -- Rare; infrequent; deficient. See Rare.
{ Scarce, Scarce"ly }, adv.
1. With difficulty; hardly; scantly; barely; but
just.
With a scarce well-lighted flame.
Milton.
The eldest scarcely five year was of
age.
Chaucer.
Slowly she sails, and scarcely stems the
tides.
Dryden.
He had scarcely finished, when the laborer
arrived who had been sent for my ransom.
W.
Irving.
2. Frugally; penuriously. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
