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paucity Definition

pau·city (sə tē)

noun

  1. fewness; small number
  2. scarcity; dearth; insufficiency

Etymology: ME paucyte < MFr or L: MFr paucité < L paucitas < paucus, few

paucity Synonyms

paucity

n.

paucity Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • convert: Many reasons are given for the paucity of converts.
  • evidence: There is a paucity of evidence on the effects of class size on pupils ' learning.
  • literature: With such a paucity of literature during that period it's hard to find out what was actually going on.
  • talent: I can hear already protests about the paucity of local talent, but I am just not prepared to accept them.
  • datum: At present there is a paucity of such data.
  • material: In contrast to the paucity of biographical material, however, many sources of Clemens ' music survive.

Converse of subject

  • limit: To be fair, there were caveats: " Our deliberations have been limited by the paucity of the available evidence.
  • compound: Poor public awareness is compounded by the relative paucity of local authority sources of in-house specialist advice.

Converse of object

  • reveal: This review revealed a paucity of references relating to the use of PBL in Sociology.
  • reflect: That pattern could simply reflect the paucity of records, particularly from earlier centuries.
  • give: Given the paucity of detailed information for GB, we must rely on figures from abroad.
  • have: Consequently, we have a paucity of cases to examine and it is hard to see how we can test these claims.
  • note: In evaluating barriers and enablers, we note the paucity of research about how these factors interact.
  • highlight: The review did not discuss specific interventions, as its main purpose was to highlight the paucity of evidence.

Adjective modifier

  • relative: Of the employe's earnings not based upon relative paucity of.
  • general: There was also a general paucity of trained operatives.
  • apparent: Given the apparent paucity of surviving live and broadcast material by the band there may not be much more to come.
  • current: Adder The current paucity and irregular distribution of the adder is not easy to understand.
  • striking: Excavations in both residential and government towns have revealed a striking paucity of cult buildings.
  • comparative: It is this passive resistance which accounts, for example, for the comparative paucity and poverty of distinctively Scottish literature since the Union.