SCARCEST

Adjective

scarcest

superlative form of scarce: most scarce

Source: Wiktionary


SCARCE

Scarce, a. [Compar. Scarcer; superl. Scarcest.] Etym: [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, 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.] "A region scarce of prey." Milton.

3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. [Obs.] "Too scarce ne too sparing." Chaucer. To make one's self scarce, to decamp; to depart. [Slang]

Syn.

– Rare; infrequent; deficient. See Rare.

Scarce, Scarce"ly, adv.

1. With difficulty; hardly; scantly; barely; but just. With a scarce well-lighted flame. Milton. The eldest scarcely five year was of age. Chaucer. Slowly she sails, and scarcely stems the tides. Dryden. He had scarcely finished, when the laborer arrived who had been sent for my ransom. W. Irwing.

2. Frugally; penuriously. [Obs.] haucer.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

1 March 2025

AROMATIC

(adjective) (chemistry) of or relating to or containing one or more benzene rings; “an aromatic organic compound”


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According to Guinness World Records, on 25 September 2016, the Birla Institute of Management Technology (India) in Uttar Pradesh, India, constructed the largest coffee cups pyramid consisting of 23,821 cups. They used paper takeaway coffee cups to build the pyramid.

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