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scarce

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scarce

Main Entry:: ¹scarce
Pronunciation:: \ˈskers\
Function:: adjective
Inflected Form(s):: scarc·er; scarc·est
Etymology:: Middle English scars, from Anglo-French eschars, escars narrow, stingy, deficient, from Vulgar Latin *excarpsus, literally, plucked out, past participle of Latin excerpere to pluck out — more at excerpt
Date:: 14th century

1 : deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand : not plentiful or abundant 2 : intentionally absent <made himself scarce at inspection time>

synonyms see infrequent

— scarce·ness noun

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