scarceadj.adv.

Brit.

/skɛːs/, U.S.

/skɛ(ə)rs/

Forms: α. Middle English–1600s scars, skars(e, Middle English–1700s scarse, (Middle English scarske), Middle English–1600s skarce, 1500s Scottish skairs(e, skarss, skeis(s, skaris, skairce, skerche, 1600s Scottish schairce, Middle English– scarce; β. Middle English–1500s scace, 1500s scas(e, skace, skase, Scottish scaysse.

Etymology: Middle English scars , < Old Northern French scars, escars, escas (Central Old French eschars , modern French échars , now only said of coin, with the sense ‘below standard value’, and of wind, in sense A. 1b below) = Provençal escars , escas , Spanish escaso , Portuguese escaço , escasso , Italian scarso < popular Latin *scarsus (medieval Latin scarsus from Italian and French), probably representing an older *excarpsus , past participle of *excarpĕre (= classical Latin excerpĕre to select out, excerpt n.), < ex (see ex- prefix¹) + carpĕre to pluck. Compare Middle Dutch schaers (Dutch schaars) from French.

A. adj.

†1.

a. Restricted in quantity, size, or amount; scanty. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > bare or mere

barec1200

scarce1297

mere1547

single1639

bare-weighta1763

scant1856

just1884

the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > limited in quantity or amount

narrowOE

poor?c1225

scarce1297

straitc1386

feeblea1513

scant1556

niggardly1564

slender1564

limited1590

scanted1594

sparing1602

scantled1604

stinted1629

exiguous1630

unlavished1635

scanty1658

unprofuse1727

costivea1734

incopious1734

niggard1751

jimp1768

skimped1839

stingy1854

restricted1856

niggard-measured1881

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] > of small or scanty extent

narroweOE

straitc1290

scarce1297

scanta1533

pinched?1567

strict1598

thrifty1601

straitened1602

scanty1701

scrimped?c1716

pookit1818

poky1828

postage-stamp-sized1852

poking1864

boxy1870

pocket handkerchief1910

postage stamp1937

α.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6862 His moder he dude ek in warde & scars liflode ire found.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 53 Nou behoueþ to habbe tuo mesures ane little and ane scarse, þet he useþ touore þe uolke. And anoþre guode and large, þet he useþ þet non ne y-zyȝþ.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 457 Vile cloþinge and scars [L. vilis et rara vestis] we haveþ in stede of gold and of greet array.

c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 478 His hous in london is to streyt & scars To doon his craft.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 90 Bot at evin only thay first prepaired the table, and that verie scharpe and skairs.

β. 1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. clxxi^v Than was theyr fode scas theyr lyuynge lyberall Theyr labour comon, they knewe no couetyse.

†b. Of wind: Slight in force or strength; almost calm. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > gentle > slight

scarcec1400

scanty1674

c1400 St. Alexius (Laud 622) 560 Þe wynde was gret, & nothing skars, þonder dyned shille.

1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. vij^v How be it y^e wynde was so scarce and calme that me [sic] coude not come to the towne of Corfona tyll monday ayenst nyght.

1600 R. Hakluyt tr. G. B. Ramusio in Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 401 Wee sayled neere to the coast on the same side, with very scarce winde, and in a manner calme.

†c. Of the water of a river, etc.: Low. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > shallowness > [adjective] > more shallow than usual (of any liquid)

lowa1398

scarce1732

small1791

1732 Earl of Oxford in Portland Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.) VI. 150 This year has been very bad for them [the boats], the water is very scarce.

†a. Of persons, their attributes and actions: Stingy, sparing, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious. Also, sparing or chary of. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [adjective]

gnedec900

gripplea1000

fastOE

narrow-hearteda1200

narrow?c1225

straitc1290

chinchc1300

nithinga1325

scarcec1330

clama1340

hard1340

scantc1366

sparingc1386

niggardc1400

chinchy?1406

retentivea1450

niggardousa1492

niggish1519

unliberal1533

pinching1548

dry1552

nigh1555

niggardly1560

churlish1566

squeamish1566

niggardish1567

niggard-like1567

holding1569

spare1577

handfast1578

envious1580

close-handed1585

hard-handed1587

curmudgeonly1590

parsimonious?1591

costive1594

hidebound1598

penny-pinching1600

penurious1600

strait-handed1600

club-fisted1601

dry-fisted1604

fast-handed1605

fast-fingered1607

close-fisted1608

near1611

scanting1613

carkingc1620

illiberal1623

clutch-fisteda1634

hideboundeda1640

clutch-fista1643

clunch-fisted1644

unbounteous1645

hard-fisted1646

purse-bound1652

close1654

stingy1659

tenacious1676

scanty1692

sneaking1696

gripe-handed1698

narrow-souled1699

niggardling1704

snippy1727

unindulgent1742

shabby1766

neargoinga1774

cheesemongering1781

split-farthing1787

save-all1788

picked1790

iron-fisted1794

unhandsome1800

scaly1803

nearbegoing1805

tight1805

nippit1808

nipcheese1819

cumin-splitting1822

partan-handed1823

scrimping1823

scrumptious1823

scrimpy1825

meanly1827

skinny1833

pinchfisted1837

mean1840

tight-fisted1843

screwy1844

stinty1849

cheeseparing1857

skinflinty1886

mouly1904

mingy1911

cheapskate1912

picey1937

tight-assed1961

chintzy1964

tightwad1976

α.

c1330 King of Tars 92 Sire, the kyng of Tars Of wikked wordes nis not scars.

13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 1244 Bothe he was scars and chinche.

c1386 G. Chaucer Melibeus ¶633 Ye shul vse the richesses,..in swich a manere, that men holde nat yow to scars, ne to sparynge, ne to fool large.

a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 211 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1672 Be scarske of þi louing.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 128 b/1 And gaf to them largely to ete suche as they asked but to herself she was hard in her sekeness & skarce.

c1500 Three Kings' Sons (1895) 78 The sone of a mighti kynge hath delyuerd a felaw that he knew not, which hath not ben scars, nor of so pore corage, but that he hath wele to his knowlage delyuerd the sone of the grettist kynge that leuyth.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 63 Be nocht a wreche nor skerche in ȝour spending.

?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. Hii Men oft haue repented, of wordes superflue But seldome of scilence, doth any man repent Wherfore scarce of wordes, is counted great vertue.

1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xxv. sig. hviii^v Superfluous in wordes; or els to scarse.

a1539 in Archaeologia (1882) 47 54 Wee..aduertise you all to be contented to lyue under a scarcer manour for a tyme then ye haue doon in tymes past.

1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks i. f. 52^v They knewe him to be of nature, scarse, and not liberall.

1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence viii. 244 Whereas many haue written of these etymologies, yet are all of them very scarse in shewing the reasons of many their interpretations.

1640 T. Carew Poems 3 And 'twere a sinne, There to be scarce, where shee hath bin So prodigall of her best graces.

β. 1414 T. Brampton Paraphr. Seven Penit. Psalms (1842) 21 To synfull man thou were nevere scace Of ‘Ne reminiscaris, Domine!’a1550 Vox Populi 740 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1866) III. 293 By cause thei be so base, Thei wylbe neadye and scase [Harl. MS. skarsse].

b. Of a period of time: Characterized by scarcity. ? Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > limited in quantity or amount > scarce > characterized by scarcity

scarcec1290

lean1672

c1290 All Saints' Day 41 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 419 Ech man..made þane day feste, And in a skars tyme of þe ȝere ase we wyten, it was in May.

1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia ii. 31 Powhatan..and some others that are provident, rost their fish and flesh vpon hurdles..and keepe it till scarce times.

3. Of food or other commodities, rarely of immaterial things: Existing or accessible in deficient quantity.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > limited in quantity or amount > scarce

gnedec1000

deara1330

scarcec1374

geason1377

dainty?a1500

scarcy1677

α.

c1374 G. Chaucer Former Age 36 Ther as vitaile is eek so skars and thinne That noght but mast or apples is therinne.

c1450 Brut 448 In þat tyme money was skarse.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II ii. i. 7 Where words are scarce they are seldome spent in vaine, For they breathe truth that breathe their wordes in paine.

1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World x. 301 The Padre told Captain Swan that Provision was now scarce on the Island.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Audley Court in Poems (new ed.) II. 43 Then touch'd upon the game, how scarce it was This season.

1878 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. (ed. 2) III. xviii. 90 Money was scarce.

1896 Law Times 100 488/2 Like most other lawyers, Inglis had his probationary period when work was scarce.

β. 1414 T. Brampton Paraphr. Seven Penit. Psalms (1842) 37 For my tyme is lytel here; My dayes be waxen wonder scace.1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII iv. 153 All thyng there was scace, by reason of the continuall warres.

a. Existing in limited number; seldom seen or met with; rare. Said chiefly of things that are sought after by collectors, e.g. a book, coin, engraving, a species of plant or animal.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > plurality > fewness > [adjective] > rare

scarce1398

dainty?a1500

rare1555

scant1581

few and far between1668

spare1813

thin on the ground1951

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum xvi. xlviii [Gems] ben preciouse for þey ben scars and diuerse; for all þat is scars and selden hadde [L. omne enim rarum] is clepid gret and preciouse.

1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 434 The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a Medalion well preserv'd.

1710 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 41 A scarse Book.

1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xvii. 211 You will not find it a scarce quality here.

1858 N. Hawthorne French & Ital. Note-bks. II. 219 Good bakers were as scarce in ancient Rome as in the modern city.

1873 Chambers's Jrnl. 27 Dec. 821/2 The wood-cock..is much scarcer than it used to be.

1884 Christian World 31 July 583/3 Knowledge is scarce, wisdom is scarcer.

b. in collectors' names of butterflies and moths.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Rhopalocera (butterflies) > [adjective] > of or relating to butterflies > rare

scarce1832

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [adjective] > of or relating to a moth > rare

scarce1832

1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 1 The scarce Swallow Tail.

1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 2 The scarce Clouded Yellow.

1884 Leisure Hour Jan. 48/1 The rarest is one of the fen-country butterflies, known as the ‘Scarce Copper’.

†c. said of a disease. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > types > [adjective] > rare

scarce1528

1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. b iij Pontike melancolye is very scarse.

5. scarce of: poorly or scantily supplied or provided with; deficient in; not having much of, short of. Now rare or Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > non-possession > [adjective] > devoid of something > lacking or without > ill-provided with something

barec1220

leana1340

needya1425

matterless1483

deficious1541

scarce of?1541

scanta1595

deficienta1616

strait1662

short of1697

shy1895

low on1904

short on1922

light1936

?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens iv. sig. Oij^v In places drye and scarce of flesshe, as the fyngers and ioyntes.

a1549 A. Borde Fyrst Bk. Introd. Knowl. (1870) xxx. 198 These countreys be baryn of wine and corne, and skarse of vitels.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 433 Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey To gorge the flesh of Lambs.

1681 W. Robertson Phraseologia generalis (1693) 1098 We are very scarce of such citizens.

1808 Z. M. Pike Acct. Exped. Sources Mississippi (1810) III. 253 This route..is very scarce of water.

1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest I. xiii. 262 We are scarce of provisions.

6. to make oneself scarce: to absent oneself, go away, keep away. colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (reflexive)]

fersec1000

teec1275

voida1387

withdraw1390

takea1393

avoida1400

devoida1400

shifta1400

avyec1440

trussa1450

deferc1480

remove1530

convey1535

subtractc1540

subduce1542

retire?1548

substract1549

room1566

to take off1620

to make oneself scarce1809

1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. x. i. 2 My liberty was granted only on condition of making myself scarce in the two Castiles.

1826 W. Scott Jrnl. 5 Apr. (1939) 148 Rose late in the morning, past eight, to give the cold and toothache time to make themselves scarce, which they have obligingly done.

1860 W. M. Thackeray Lovel i When Lovel's wife began to show me that she was tired of my company, I made myself scarce.

1895 Mrs. H. Ward Bessie Costrell iv Just mek yourselves scarce, all the lot o' yer.

7. Qualifying a noun of action, forming a phrase equivalent to the gerund qualified by scarcely. rare.

ΚΠ

1841 C. J. Lever Charles O'Malley lxxvii, in Dublin Univ. Mag. Apr. 493/2 She..with a half smile of scarce recognition passed by me.

B. adv.

†1. Scantily, sparsely. Cf. scarcely adv. 1. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > plurality > fewness > [adverb]

scarcec1300

smallya1513

sparse1725

sparsely1796

slimly1801

tenuously1892

the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adverb] > not abundantly

scarcec1300

weakly1605

sparse1725

slimly1801

c1300 Beket 274 (Percy Soc.) 13 And of the beste him silve he at swithe scars and lute.

c1450 Mirk's Festial 9 For when hit schall be dere, hit walleth scarce; and when hit schall be gret schep, hit walleþe plentwysly ynogh.

2. Now archaic or literary.

a. Barely, only just; not quite; = scarcely adv. 2. Also †full scarce.See the remarks under scarcely adv. 2, which apply also to the uses of this word. Before adverbs in -ly the form scarce is often adopted instead of scarcely, to avoid the iteration of the suffix.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > barely, scarcely, only, or just

uneathc1200

scarcely1297

albusyc1325

onlepyc1350

anerly1381

barec1400

scarce1413

scantlyc1440

narrowlyc1450

scant1492

barelya1513

hardly?1532

faintly1544

nakedly1589

just1603

rawly1607

just1627

badly1715

scrimp1756

bare-weighta1763

scrimplya1774

jimp1814

jistc1820

α.

1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iv. xvi. 71 A litel hows whiche hath in euery side skars a mannes lengthe.

1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xii. f. lxxiii^v All wee haue done, is but our dutie and skarse that.

1565 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 402 Skairis aneuch to sustene this thair realme.

1577 T. Kendall tr. Politianus et al. Flowers of Epigrammes f. 4^v With worldly cares he was so toste, that scarse he tooke his reste.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. i. 112 Retyring from the Siege of Orleance, Hauing full scarce six thousand in his troupe.

1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 40 The blinde may Judge as well of colours, as may Master Selden of a deceiving argument, who hath saluted Logick scarce along.

1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 19 In a hand scars legible.

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 85 Till Conquerour Death discover them scarce men, Rowling in brutish vices.

1676 H. Prideaux Lett. (1875) 54 I scarce think she would marry on [= one] with nothing.

a1699 A. Halkett Autobiogr. (1875) 44 They were so shaken they could skarce hold there feett.

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 135 He scarce ever went to their meetings.

1720 D. Waterland 8 Serm. Divinity of Christ 119 The other Construction..is scarce Sense.

1862 Ld. Tennyson Idylls Ded. 6 And indeed He seems to me Scarce other than my own ideal knight.

1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island iii. xiv. 116 I ran as I never ran before, scarce minding the direction of my flight, so long as it led me from the murderers.

1886 C. E. Pascoe London of To-day (ed. 3) xx. 200 A sleepy little town scarce bigger than a village.

β. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts xiv. 18 With these sayings scase refrayned they the people.1548 in Cal. Scott. Pap. (1898) I. 91 Her ovarlope ys so sanke, scaysse abull to bere her ordynans.1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 470 The stowte Souldiour for faintnesse could scase welde his weapon.

†b. with pleonastic negative. Cf. scarcely adv. 2b, scant adj. 1c. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1591 J. Harington Briefe Apol. Poetrie in tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso sig. ¶viiij For the verse I do challenge none, being a thing that euery body that neuer scarce bayted their horse at the Vniuersitie take vpon them to make.

1624 Ld. Kensington Let. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. III. 177 They will not conceive mee nor scarse receive mee but as a publike instrument for the service of an alliance.

1685 J. Dunton Lett. from New Eng. (1867) 13 Not Heljogabalus himself could scarce boast a more delicious table.

c. with reference to time. Cf. scarcely adv. 2c.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > newness or novelty > recency > [adverb] > scarcely or only just

uneathc1000

uneathsc1340

scarce1513

scarcely1542

scant1551

now-now1948

α.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. iii. 90 Scars had Juno thir wordis brocht to end, Quhen [etc.].

a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Biii Scarse spake I this: when wailing thus he sayd.

1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. ii. sig. Aa4^v We had scarce entred those Fields, when our Ears were saluted with [etc.].

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 850 There he her met, Scarse from the Tree returning.

1799 S. Turner Hist. Anglo-Saxons I. 352 Scarce had they submitted, but the Huns were invading him [Charlemagne].

β. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xc He had skace ended his exhortacion, but the Englishmen beyng incouraged with his prudent persuasion, sette on their enemies.

d. Qualifying a participial adjective used attributively. Commonly hyphenated.

ΚΠ

1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia iii. i. 86 His iawes..slyghtly couer'd with a scarce-seene skyn.

1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 166 A number of little and scarce discerned vertues.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iv. iii. 50 Our scarse-cold Conqueror,..Henrie the fift.

1645 J. Milton Epit. Marchioness of Winchester in Poems 24 He at their invoking came But with a scarce-wel-lighted flame.

1664 Bp. H. King Let. in Donne 4 in Lives (1670) The scarce closed Wounds of a newly bleeding State and Church.

1814 Ld. Byron Lara ii. xix. 1104 The accents his scarce-moving pale lips spoke.

1868 E. FitzGerald tr. Rubáiyát Omar Khayyám (ed. 2) xc. 19 And once again there gather'd a scarce heard Whisper among them.

1899 H. Wright Depopulation 102 The pair rose from the scarce-tasted breakfast.

1915 G. Frankau Tid'apa ii. 14 A scarce-breathed, flickering soul-wave, discoded but conscience-deep.

1921 W. de la Mare Veil & Other Poems 35 There came, scarce-heard, Claws, fluttering feathers, Of deluded bird.

1922 E. Blunden Shepherd (ed. 2) 53 In the scarce-glimmering boles.

1935 C. Day Lewis Time to Dance & Other Poems 33 Like a bird scarce-fledged they flew, whose flying-hours are few.

1951 W. de la Mare Winged Chariot 57 I match that child with this scarce-changed old man.

†3. Seldom, scarcely ever, rarely. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb]

seldom-whenc888

seldomc897

seld-whenc897

seldoma1000

seldc1000

seldom-timec1386

seld-timec1386

seld-whilea1387

seld-where1390

thinc1405

rare?1440

sendle?a1500

daintilya1513

thinlyc1545

rarely1546

once in a moon1547

out-takingly1549

seldomly1549

for once and away1583

sparingly1590

scarce1596

unfrequently1646

unoften1654

infrequently1673

once in a while1765

sporadically1765

sparselya1871

seldom-while1876

(for) once in a way1891

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 40 The turtle dwe, the feldifare, the nichtingale, with vthiris natiounis ar frequent, bot skairs with us ar fund.

a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. ii. 36 For those that she makes faire, she scarce makes honest.

1663 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 479 Never or scarse was the like seen.

4. Used (after Latin vix) for: With difficulty. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > [adverb] > with difficulty

uneathc888

arvethlichec1000

uneathsc1200

hardc1300

albusyc1325

wondsomely?a1400

hardlya1425

narrowlyc1450

unreadilyc1454

a-pain1487

uneasily1600

scarce1667

scarcely1697

ill1832

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 470 Scarse from his mould Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd His vastness.

1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound ii. v. 91 How thou art changed! I dare not look on thee;..I scarce endure The radiance of thy beauty.

1883 R. W. Dixon Mano i. xv. 49 For a brass demon..Leaped on him, and he scarce departed thence, Leaving the riches o'er the cavern strewn.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	scarce
释义	scarceadj.adv. Brit. /skɛːs/, U.S. /skɛ(ə)rs/ Forms: α. Middle English–1600s scars, skars(e, Middle English–1700s scarse, (Middle English scarske), Middle English–1600s skarce, 1500s Scottish skairs(e, skarss, skeis(s, skaris, skairce, skerche, 1600s Scottish schairce, Middle English– scarce; β. Middle English–1500s scace, 1500s scas(e, skace, skase, Scottish scaysse. Etymology: Middle English scars , < Old Northern French scars, escars, escas (Central Old French eschars , modern French échars , now only said of coin, with the sense ‘below standard value’, and of wind, in sense A. 1b below) = Provençal escars , escas , Spanish escaso , Portuguese escaço , escasso , Italian scarso < popular Latin scarsus (medieval Latin scarsus* from Italian and French), probably representing an older excarpsus , past participle of excarpĕre (= classical Latin excerpĕre to select out, excerpt n.), < ex (see ex- prefix¹) + carpĕre to pluck. Compare Middle Dutch schaers (Dutch schaars) from French. A. adj. †1. a. Restricted in quantity, size, or amount; scanty. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > bare or mere barec1200 scarce1297 mere1547 single1639 bare-weighta1763 scant1856 just1884 the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > limited in quantity or amount narrowOE poor?c1225 scarce1297 straitc1386 feeblea1513 scant1556 niggardly1564 slender1564 limited1590 scanted1594 sparing1602 scantled1604 stinted1629 exiguous1630 unlavished1635 scanty1658 unprofuse1727 costivea1734 incopious1734 niggard1751 jimp1768 skimped1839 stingy1854 restricted1856 niggard-measured1881 the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] > of small or scanty extent narroweOE straitc1290 scarce1297 scanta1533 pinched?1567 strict1598 thrifty1601 straitened1602 scanty1701 scrimped?c1716 pookit1818 poky1828 postage-stamp-sized1852 poking1864 boxy1870 pocket handkerchief1910 postage stamp1937 α. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6862 His moder he dude ek in warde & scars liflode ire found. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 53 Nou behoueþ to habbe tuo mesures ane little and ane scarse, þet he useþ touore þe uolke. And anoþre guode and large, þet he useþ þet non ne y-zyȝþ. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 457 Vile cloþinge and scars [L. vilis et rara vestis] we haveþ in stede of gold and of greet array. c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 478 His hous in london is to streyt & scars To doon his craft. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 90 Bot at evin only thay first prepaired the table, and that verie scharpe and skairs. β. 1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. clxxi^v Than was theyr fode scas theyr lyuynge lyberall Theyr labour comon, they knewe no couetyse. †b. Of wind: Slight in force or strength; almost calm. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > gentle > slight scarcec1400 scanty1674 c1400 St. Alexius (Laud 622) 560 Þe wynde was gret, & nothing skars, þonder dyned shille. 1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. vij^v How be it y^e wynde was so scarce and calme that me [sic] coude not come to the towne of Corfona tyll monday ayenst nyght. 1600 R. Hakluyt tr. G. B. Ramusio in Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 401 Wee sayled neere to the coast on the same side, with very scarce winde, and in a manner calme. †c. Of the water of a river, etc.: Low. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > shallowness > [adjective] > more shallow than usual (of any liquid) lowa1398 scarce1732 small1791 1732 Earl of Oxford in Portland Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.) VI. 150 This year has been very bad for them [the boats], the water is very scarce. 2. †a. Of persons, their attributes and actions: Stingy, sparing, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious. Also, sparing or chary of. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [adjective] gnedec900 gripplea1000 fastOE narrow-hearteda1200 narrow?c1225 straitc1290 chinchc1300 nithinga1325 scarcec1330 clama1340 hard1340 scantc1366 sparingc1386 niggardc1400 chinchy?1406 retentivea1450 niggardousa1492 niggish1519 unliberal1533 pinching1548 dry1552 nigh1555 niggardly1560 churlish1566 squeamish1566 niggardish1567 niggard-like1567 holding1569 spare1577 handfast1578 envious1580 close-handed1585 hard-handed1587 curmudgeonly1590 parsimonious?1591 costive1594 hidebound1598 penny-pinching1600 penurious1600 strait-handed1600 club-fisted1601 dry-fisted1604 fast-handed1605 fast-fingered1607 close-fisted1608 near1611 scanting1613 carkingc1620 illiberal1623 clutch-fisteda1634 hideboundeda1640 clutch-fista1643 clunch-fisted1644 unbounteous1645 hard-fisted1646 purse-bound1652 close1654 stingy1659 tenacious1676 scanty1692 sneaking1696 gripe-handed1698 narrow-souled1699 niggardling1704 snippy1727 unindulgent1742 shabby1766 neargoinga1774 cheesemongering1781 split-farthing1787 save-all1788 picked1790 iron-fisted1794 unhandsome1800 scaly1803 nearbegoing1805 tight1805 nippit1808 nipcheese1819 cumin-splitting1822 partan-handed1823 scrimping1823 scrumptious1823 scrimpy1825 meanly1827 skinny1833 pinchfisted1837 mean1840 tight-fisted1843 screwy1844 stinty1849 cheeseparing1857 skinflinty1886 mouly1904 mingy1911 cheapskate1912 picey1937 tight-assed1961 chintzy1964 tightwad1976 α. c1330 King of Tars 92 Sire, the kyng of Tars Of wikked wordes nis not scars. 13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 1244 Bothe he was scars and chinche. c1386 G. Chaucer Melibeus ¶633 Ye shul vse the richesses,..in swich a manere, that men holde nat yow to scars, ne to sparynge, ne to fool large. a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 211 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1672 Be scarske of þi louing. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 128 b/1 And gaf to them largely to ete suche as they asked but to herself she was hard in her sekeness & skarce. c1500 Three Kings' Sons (1895) 78 The sone of a mighti kynge hath delyuerd a felaw that he knew not, which hath not ben scars, nor of so pore corage, but that he hath wele to his knowlage delyuerd the sone of the grettist kynge that leuyth. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 63 Be nocht a wreche nor skerche in ȝour spending. ?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. Hii Men oft haue repented, of wordes superflue But seldome of scilence, doth any man repent Wherfore scarce of wordes, is counted great vertue. 1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xxv. sig. hviii^v Superfluous in wordes; or els to scarse. a1539 in Archaeologia (1882) 47 54 Wee..aduertise you all to be contented to lyue under a scarcer manour for a tyme then ye haue doon in tymes past. 1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks i. f. 52^v They knewe him to be of nature, scarse, and not liberall. 1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence viii. 244 Whereas many haue written of these etymologies, yet are all of them very scarse in shewing the reasons of many their interpretations. 1640 T. Carew Poems 3 And 'twere a sinne, There to be scarce, where shee hath bin So prodigall of her best graces. β. 1414 T. Brampton Paraphr. Seven Penit. Psalms (1842) 21 To synfull man thou were nevere scace Of ‘Ne reminiscaris, Domine!’a1550 Vox Populi 740 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1866) III. 293 By cause thei be so base, Thei wylbe neadye and scase [Harl. MS. skarsse]. b. Of a period of time: Characterized by scarcity. ? Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > limited in quantity or amount > scarce > characterized by scarcity scarcec1290 lean1672 c1290 All Saints' Day 41 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 419 Ech man..made þane day feste, And in a skars tyme of þe ȝere ase we wyten, it was in May. 1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia ii. 31 Powhatan..and some others that are provident, rost their fish and flesh vpon hurdles..and keepe it till scarce times. 3. Of food or other commodities, rarely of immaterial things: Existing or accessible in deficient quantity. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > limited in quantity or amount > scarce gnedec1000 deara1330 scarcec1374 geason1377 dainty?a1500 scarcy1677 α. c1374 G. Chaucer Former Age 36 Ther as vitaile is eek so skars and thinne That noght but mast or apples is therinne. c1450 Brut 448 In þat tyme money was skarse. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II ii. i. 7 Where words are scarce they are seldome spent in vaine, For they breathe truth that breathe their wordes in paine. View more context for this quotation 1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World x. 301 The Padre told Captain Swan that Provision was now scarce on the Island. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Audley Court in Poems (new ed.) II. 43 Then touch'd upon the game, how scarce it was This season. 1878 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. (ed. 2) III. xviii. 90 Money was scarce. 1896 Law Times 100 488/2 Like most other lawyers, Inglis had his probationary period when work was scarce. β. 1414 T. Brampton Paraphr. Seven Penit. Psalms (1842) 37 For my tyme is lytel here; My dayes be waxen wonder scace.1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII iv. 153 All thyng there was scace, by reason of the continuall warres. 4. a. Existing in limited number; seldom seen or met with; rare. Said chiefly of things that are sought after by collectors, e.g. a book, coin, engraving, a species of plant or animal. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > plurality > fewness > [adjective] > rare scarce1398 dainty?a1500 rare1555 scant1581 few and far between1668 few and far between1668 spare1813 thin on the ground1951 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum xvi. xlviii [Gems] ben preciouse for þey ben scars and diuerse; for all þat is scars and selden hadde [L. omne enim rarum] is clepid gret and preciouse. 1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 434 The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a Medalion well preserv'd. 1710 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 41 A scarse Book. 1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xvii. 211 You will not find it a scarce quality here. 1858 N. Hawthorne French & Ital. Note-bks. II. 219 Good bakers were as scarce in ancient Rome as in the modern city. 1873 Chambers's Jrnl. 27 Dec. 821/2 The wood-cock..is much scarcer than it used to be. 1884 Christian World 31 July 583/3 Knowledge is scarce, wisdom is scarcer. b. in collectors' names of butterflies and moths. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Rhopalocera (butterflies) > [adjective] > of or relating to butterflies > rare scarce1832 the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [adjective] > of or relating to a moth > rare scarce1832 1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 1 The scarce Swallow Tail. 1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 2 The scarce Clouded Yellow. 1884 Leisure Hour Jan. 48/1 The rarest is one of the fen-country butterflies, known as the ‘Scarce Copper’. †c. said of a disease. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > types > [adjective] > rare scarce1528 1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. b iij Pontike melancolye is very scarse. 5. scarce of: poorly or scantily supplied or provided with; deficient in; not having much of, short of. Now rare or Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > non-possession > [adjective] > devoid of something > lacking or without > ill-provided with something barec1220 leana1340 needya1425 matterless1483 deficious1541 scarce of?1541 scanta1595 deficienta1616 strait1662 short of1697 shy1895 low on1904 short on1922 light1936 ?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens iv. sig. Oij^v In places drye and scarce of flesshe, as the fyngers and ioyntes. a1549 A. Borde Fyrst Bk. Introd. Knowl. (1870) xxx. 198 These countreys be baryn of wine and corne, and skarse of vitels. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 433 Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey To gorge the flesh of Lambs. View more context for this quotation 1681 W. Robertson Phraseologia generalis (1693) 1098 We are very scarce of such citizens. 1808 Z. M. Pike Acct. Exped. Sources Mississippi (1810) III. 253 This route..is very scarce of water. 1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest I. xiii. 262 We are scarce of provisions. 6. to make oneself scarce: to absent oneself, go away, keep away. colloquial. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (reflexive)] fersec1000 teec1275 voida1387 withdraw1390 takea1393 avoida1400 devoida1400 shifta1400 avyec1440 trussa1450 deferc1480 remove1530 convey1535 subtractc1540 subduce1542 retire?1548 substract1549 room1566 to take off1620 to make oneself scarce1809 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. x. i. 2 My liberty was granted only on condition of making myself scarce in the two Castiles. 1826 W. Scott Jrnl. 5 Apr. (1939) 148 Rose late in the morning, past eight, to give the cold and toothache time to make themselves scarce, which they have obligingly done. 1860 W. M. Thackeray Lovel i When Lovel's wife began to show me that she was tired of my company, I made myself scarce. 1895 Mrs. H. Ward Bessie Costrell iv Just mek yourselves scarce, all the lot o' yer. 7. Qualifying a noun of action, forming a phrase equivalent to the gerund qualified by scarcely. rare. ΚΠ 1841 C. J. Lever Charles O'Malley lxxvii, in Dublin Univ. Mag. Apr. 493/2 She..with a half smile of scarce recognition passed by me. B. adv. †1. Scantily, sparsely. Cf. scarcely adv. 1. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > plurality > fewness > [adverb] scarcec1300 smallya1513 sparse1725 sparsely1796 slimly1801 tenuously1892 the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adverb] > not abundantly scarcec1300 weakly1605 sparse1725 slimly1801 c1300 Beket 274 (Percy Soc.) 13 And of the beste him silve he at swithe scars and lute. c1450 Mirk's Festial 9 For when hit schall be dere, hit walleth scarce; and when hit schall be gret schep, hit walleþe plentwysly ynogh. 2. Now archaic or literary. a. Barely, only just; not quite; = scarcely adv. 2. Also †full scarce.See the remarks under scarcely adv. 2, which apply also to the uses of this word. Before adverbs in -ly the form scarce is often adopted instead of scarcely, to avoid the iteration of the suffix. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > barely, scarcely, only, or just uneathc1200 scarcely1297 albusyc1325 onlepyc1350 anerly1381 barec1400 scarce1413 scantlyc1440 narrowlyc1450 scant1492 barelya1513 hardly?1532 faintly1544 nakedly1589 just1603 rawly1607 just1627 badly1715 scrimp1756 bare-weighta1763 scrimplya1774 jimp1814 jistc1820 α. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iv. xvi. 71 A litel hows whiche hath in euery side skars a mannes lengthe. 1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xii. f. lxxiii^v All wee haue done, is but our dutie and skarse that. 1565 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 402 Skairis aneuch to sustene this thair realme. 1577 T. Kendall tr. Politianus et al. Flowers of Epigrammes f. 4^v With worldly cares he was so toste, that scarse he tooke his reste. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. i. 112 Retyring from the Siege of Orleance, Hauing full scarce six thousand in his troupe. 1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 40 The blinde may Judge as well of colours, as may Master Selden of a deceiving argument, who hath saluted Logick scarce along. 1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 19 In a hand scars legible. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 85 Till Conquerour Death discover them scarce men, Rowling in brutish vices. View more context for this quotation 1676 H. Prideaux Lett. (1875) 54 I scarce think she would marry on [= one] with nothing. a1699 A. Halkett Autobiogr. (1875) 44 They were so shaken they could skarce hold there feett. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 135 He scarce ever went to their meetings. 1720 D. Waterland 8 Serm. Divinity of Christ 119 The other Construction..is scarce Sense. 1862 Ld. Tennyson Idylls Ded. 6 And indeed He seems to me Scarce other than my own ideal knight. 1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island iii. xiv. 116 I ran as I never ran before, scarce minding the direction of my flight, so long as it led me from the murderers. 1886 C. E. Pascoe London of To-day (ed. 3) xx. 200 A sleepy little town scarce bigger than a village. β. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts xiv. 18 With these sayings scase refrayned they the people.1548 in Cal. Scott. Pap. (1898) I. 91 Her ovarlope ys so sanke, scaysse abull to bere her ordynans.1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 470 The stowte Souldiour for faintnesse could scase welde his weapon. †b. with pleonastic negative. Cf. scarcely adv. 2b, scant adj. 1c. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1591 J. Harington Briefe Apol. Poetrie in tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso sig. ¶viiij For the verse I do challenge none, being a thing that euery body that neuer scarce bayted their horse at the Vniuersitie take vpon them to make. 1624 Ld. Kensington Let. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. III. 177 They will not conceive mee nor scarse receive mee but as a publike instrument for the service of an alliance. 1685 J. Dunton Lett. from New Eng. (1867) 13 Not Heljogabalus himself could scarce boast a more delicious table. c. with reference to time. Cf. scarcely adv. 2c. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > newness or novelty > recency > [adverb] > scarcely or only just uneathc1000 uneathsc1340 scarce1513 scarcely1542 scant1551 now-now1948 α. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. iii. 90 Scars had Juno thir wordis brocht to end, Quhen [etc.]. a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Biii Scarse spake I this: when wailing thus he sayd. 1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. ii. sig. Aa4^v We had scarce entred those Fields, when our Ears were saluted with [etc.]. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 850 There he her met, Scarse from the Tree returning. View more context for this quotation 1799 S. Turner Hist. Anglo-Saxons I. 352 Scarce had they submitted, but the Huns were invading him [Charlemagne]. β. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xc He had skace ended his exhortacion, but the Englishmen beyng incouraged with his prudent persuasion, sette on their enemies. d. Qualifying a participial adjective used attributively. Commonly hyphenated. ΚΠ 1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia iii. i. 86 His iawes..slyghtly couer'd with a scarce-seene skyn. 1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 166 A number of little and scarce discerned vertues. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iv. iii. 50 Our scarse-cold Conqueror,..Henrie the fift. 1645 J. Milton Epit. Marchioness of Winchester in Poems 24 He at their invoking came But with a scarce-wel-lighted flame. 1664 Bp. H. King Let. in Donne 4 in Lives (1670) The scarce closed Wounds of a newly bleeding State and Church. 1814 Ld. Byron Lara ii. xix. 1104 The accents his scarce-moving pale lips spoke. 1868 E. FitzGerald tr. Rubáiyát Omar Khayyám (ed. 2) xc. 19 And once again there gather'd a scarce heard Whisper among them. 1899 H. Wright Depopulation 102 The pair rose from the scarce-tasted breakfast. 1915 G. Frankau Tid'apa ii. 14 A scarce-breathed, flickering soul-wave, discoded but conscience-deep. 1921 W. de la Mare Veil & Other Poems 35 There came, scarce-heard, Claws, fluttering feathers, Of deluded bird. 1922 E. Blunden Shepherd (ed. 2) 53 In the scarce-glimmering boles. 1935 C. Day Lewis Time to Dance & Other Poems 33 Like a bird scarce-fledged they flew, whose flying-hours are few. 1951 W. de la Mare Winged Chariot 57 I match that child with this scarce-changed old man. †3. Seldom, scarcely ever, rarely. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] seldom-whenc888 seldomc897 seld-whenc897 seldoma1000 seldc1000 seldom-timec1386 seld-timec1386 seld-whilea1387 seld-where1390 thinc1405 rare?1440 sendle?a1500 daintilya1513 thinlyc1545 rarely1546 once in a moon1547 out-takingly1549 seldomly1549 for once and away1583 sparingly1590 scarce1596 unfrequently1646 unoften1654 infrequently1673 once in a while1765 sporadically1765 sparselya1871 seldom-while1876 (for) once in a way1891 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 40 The turtle dwe, the feldifare, the nichtingale, with vthiris natiounis ar frequent, bot skairs with us ar fund. a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. ii. 36 For those that she makes faire, she scarce makes honest. View more context for this quotation 1663 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 479 Never or scarse was the like seen. 4. Used (after Latin vix) for: With difficulty. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > [adverb] > with difficulty uneathc888 arvethlichec1000 uneathsc1200 hardc1300 albusyc1325 wondsomely?a1400 hardlya1425 narrowlyc1450 unreadilyc1454 a-pain1487 uneasily1600 scarce1667 scarcely1697 ill1832 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 470 Scarse from his mould Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd His vastness. View more context for this quotation 1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound ii. v. 91 How thou art changed! I dare not look on thee;..I scarce endure The radiance of thy beauty. 1883 R. W. Dixon Mano i. xv. 49 For a brass demon..Leaped on him, and he scarce departed thence, Leaving the riches o'er the cavern strewn. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † scarcev. Forms: Middle English skarse, Middle English scarce, Middle English, 1600s scarse. Etymology: < scarce adj. Compare scarcen v. Obsolete. rare. 1. intransitive. a. To become less, diminish. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [verb (intransitive)] > become calm (of weather or the elements) > abate (of storm) scarce1390 overblowa1393 vail1606 spend1678 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 313 The wyndy Storm began to skarse. b. To become scarce. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > be insufficient [verb (intransitive)] > become scanty or scarce scant1436 scarcea1500 scarcen1803 to run short1850 a1500 Brut 400 (Galba) By that tyme her vitailis scarsid sore with-ynne the Cite. 2. transitive. To make less; to rarefy. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > reduce in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (transitive)] littleeOE anitherOE wanzelOE lessc1225 slakea1300 littenc1300 aslakec1314 adminisha1325 allayc1330 settle1338 low1340 minisha1382 reprovea1382 abatea1398 rebatea1398 subtlea1398 alaskia1400 forlyten?a1400 imminish14.. lessenc1410 diminish1417 repress?a1425 assuagec1430 scarcec1440 small1440 underslakec1440 alessa1450 debate?c1450 batec1460 decreasec1470 appetisse1474 alow1494 mince1499 perswage?1504 remita1513 inless?1521 attenuate1530 weaken1530 defray1532 mitigate1532 minorate1534 narrow?1548 diminuec1550 extenuate1555 amain1578 exolve1578 base1581 dejecta1586 amoinder1588 faint1598 qualify1604 contract1605 to pull down1607 shrivel1609 to take down1610 disaugment1611 impoverish1611 shrink1628 decoct1629 persway1631 unflame1635 straiten1645 depress1647 reduce1649 detract1654 minuate1657 alloy1661 lower?1662 sinka1684 retreat1690 nip1785 to drive down1840 minify1866 to knock down1867 to damp down1869 scale1887 mute1891 clip1938 to roll back1942 to cut back1943 downscale1945 downrate1958 slim1963 downshift1972 c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 442/2 Scarsyn, or make lesse, minoro. 1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Scarsare, to scarce, to spare, to pinch, to cut off, to scant. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online September 2021). < adj.adv.c1290v.1390
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scarceadj.adv.

† scarcev.