| 释义 |
scarceness Now rare.|ˈskɛəsnɪs|
Forms: see scarce a.; also α. 6 charsnes, Sc. scaircenes, 7 Sc. scairsenesse; β. 6 skasenes; γ. 5 skarnes, scarnes, 6–7 scarnesse.
[f. scarce a. + -ness.
The γ forms are not easy to account for, but they occur so frequently that it is difficult to regard them as due to misprints or scribal errors.]
†1. Niggardliness, stinginess. Of soil: infertility. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 28628 Gain pride þat orisun mai rise, And fast gain flesli couetis, Almus gain scarsnes wit-stand. 1390Gower Conf. II. 286 And thus be cause of my scarsnesse Ye mai wel understonde and lieve That I schal noght the worse achieve The pourpos which is in my thoght. 1482Monk of Evesham l. (Arb.) 100, Y knowe not onethe any prelate in thys dayes, that vsyd so grete scarsnes to her kynnys folke as sche me semyd dydde to her cosynis. 1509Barclay Ship of Fools (1874) II. 97 Theyr scarsnes nowe is tournyd to couetyse. 1678Dryden All for Love i. i, ægypt is doom'd to be A Roman Province; and our plenteous Harvests Must then redeem the Scarceness of their Soil.
†2.
a. Of diet: Scantiness, meagreness.
b. Of persons: Abstemiousness. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 316, & so scarsnesse of heere foode tellith to men þat þei ben hooly. 1451J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert (E.E.T.S.) 97 What schuld we speke of his diete, with what scarsnesse of mete & drynk he was fed? 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 47 Wede them out by abstinence, chastite, hardnes in weryng, scarsnes in fedyng.
3. Deficient supply, scarcity.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 251 Neuerþeles in Hannibals tyme þey were i-constreyned for to goo out of skarsnesse of knyȝtes. c1450tr. De Imitatione ii. Contents (1893) 39 Of skarsenes of louers of the crosse of crist. 1508Fisher 7 Penit. Ps. cii. Wks. (1876) 173 For in so grete charsnes [ed. 1555 skaresnes] of ryghtwyse people, tyme is to shewe mercy vpon it. 1526Grete Herball xci. (1529) F ij, Agaynst cough & scarcenesse of breth caused of cold take [etc.]. 1553Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 21 Yet hath it wheate and fleshe; but greate scarcenesse of wood. 1651Reg. Commission Gt. Assemb. 3 Jan. (S.H.S.) III. 176 It shall be a shame for any in this land..becaus of the scairsenesse of men, to make use of such. 1812G. Chalmers Dom. Econ. Gt. Brit. 30 Nor, need you fear this scarceness of money.
β1538Starkey England i. ii. 47 Ther schal also sprynge therof grete penury and scasenes of al thyngys necessary for mannys lyfe.
γc1400Apol. Loll. (Camden) 109 Þat is, as þe Glose seiþ, þat I falle not in to forgeyting of euer lasting, for nede, or scarnes of passing þingis. 1535Coverdale 2 Sam. iii. 29 And in the house of Ioab there ceasse not one to haue a renninge yssue..and to haue scarnesse of bred.
†b. absol. Scarcity of food or provisions. Obs.
1481Caxton Godfrey xciii. 144 And was grete suffrete and scarsenes in thoost. 1530Palsgr. 266/1 Scarsnesse or hungre, famine. 1533–4Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 4 By reason whereof a great scarsenes and derthe doeth insue to the kinges subiectes. 1538Bale God's Promises v. (1744) 26 A scarsenesse vii. years, or else iii. monthes exyle. 1555Eden Decades i. iii. (Arb.) 78 They are content with soo lyttle, that in soo large a countrey, they haue rather superfluitie then scarsenes.
†4. Want, poverty. Obs.
α1535Coverdale Ps. lxvii. 6 He is the God yt..bryngeth y⊇ presoners out of captiuite in due season, but letteth y⊇ rennagates continue in scarcenesse [So 1611]. 1581Styward Mart. Discipl. ii. 162 [He] pittied in his heart the scarsenesse or pouertie of an expert man of warre.
β1528Roy Rede me (Arb.) 79 They flye diligently all excesse Livynge in poverte and scasnes With smale dryncke and browne breade.
γc1400Apol. Loll. (Camden) 26 For wan þei prey for plentey, and pees,..he wil send hem skarnes & noiȝes. c1650Earl of Westm. 178 in Percy's MS. Ball. & Rom. (1867) I. 308 For thé haue knowen me in wele and woe, in neede, scarnesse & pouertye.
5. Uncommonness, rarity.
1672Boyle Ess. Gems ii. 113 The Rarity of transparent Gems,..and the great Value, which their Scarceness and mens Folly sets upon them. 1744Berkeley Siris §22 The folly of man rateth things by their scarceness. 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xvii. 66, I have already spoken of the scarceness of Castles in England before the Norman Conquest. |