| 释义 |
scarce
I. \ˈske](ə)rs, ˈska(a)], ]əs, dial ˈski] or ˈskərs or ˈskə̄s or ˈskās\ adjective
(-er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English scars, from Old North French escars, scars, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin excarpsus, literally, plucked out, alteration of Latin excerptus, past participle of excerpere to pluck out, excerpt — more at excerpt
1.
a. : deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand : not plentiful or abundant
< butter is cheap when it is plentiful, and dear when it is scarce — G.B.Shaw >
< snappy looking gals are scarce as hen's teeth out here — Star Detective >
: rare
< collects scarce Japanese prints >
b. : not provided in sufficient abundance to be free
2. obsolete : parsimonious, stingy, frugal
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English scars, from scars, adjective
: scarcely, barely, hardly
< would have scarce arrived before she would find some excuse to leave — W.B.Yeats >
< cities of the period were scarce more than towns — J.T.Adams > |