In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
SCANTLY
Etymology
Adverb
scantly (comparative more scantly, superlative most scantly)
In a way that is slightly lacking, that is scant of how much should be provided.
Barely; hardly.
We hold a tourney here to-morrow morn, / And there is scantly time for half the work.
Source: Wiktionary
Scant"ly, adv.
1. In a scant manner; not fully or sufficiently; narrowly; penuriously. Dryden.
2. Scarcely; hardly; barely. Scantly they durst their feeble eyes dispread Upon that town. Fairfax. We hold a tourney here to-morrow morn, And there is scantly time for half the work. Tennyson.
SCANT
Scant, a. [Compar. Scanter; superl. Scantest.] Etym: [Icel. skamt, neuter of skamr, skammr, short; cf. skamta to dole out, to portion.]
1. Not full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; less than is wanted for the purpose; scanty; meager; not enough; as, a scant allowance of provisions or water; a scant pattern of cloth for a garment. His sermon was scant, in all, a quarter of an hour. Ridley.
2. Sparing; parsimonious; chary. Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence. Shak.
Syn.
– See under Scanty.
Scant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Scanting.]
1. To limit; to straiten; to treat illiberally; to stint; as, to scant one in provisions; to scant ourselves in the use of necessaries. Where man hath a great living laid together and where he is scanted. Bacon. I am scanted in the pleasure of dwelling on your actions. Dryden.
2. To cut short; to make small, narrow, or scanty; to curtail. "Scant not my cups." Shak.
Scant, v. i.
Definition: To fail, of become less; to scantle; as, the wind scants.
Scant, adv.
Definition: In a scant manner; with difficulty; scarcely; hardly. [Obs.] Bacon. So weak that he was scant able to go down the stairs. Fuller.
Scant, n.
Definition: Scantness; scarcity. [R.] T. Carew.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
28 March 2025
HOST
(noun) a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
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