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De - Pt| English Dictionary: scarcer | by the DICT Development Group |
| 1 result for scarcer | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Scarce \Scarce\ (sk[acir]rs), a. [Compar. {Scarcer} (sk[acir]r"s[etil]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.] [bd]A region scarce of prey.[b8] --Milton. 3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. [Obs.] [bd]Too scarce ne too sparing.[b8] --Chaucer. {To make one's self scarce}, to decamp; to depart. [Slang] Syn: Rare; infrequent; deficient. See {Rare}. | |
