scarcest

Variant of scarce

scarce definition

scarce (skers)

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

Literary scarcely

Related Forms:

scarce Idioms

make oneself scarce

Informal to go or stay away

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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