adjective scarcer, scarcest

1. not common; rarely seen
2. not plentiful; not sufficient to meet the demand; hard to get

Etymology: 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

adverb