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