01 n. The quality or condition of being scarce; smallness of quantity in proportion to the wants or demands; deficiency; lack of plenty; short su…
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1.
The quality or condition of being scarce; smallness of quantity in proportion to the wants or demands; deficiency; lack of plenty; short supply; penury; as, a scarcity of grain; a great scarcity of beauties.“A scarcity of snow would raise a mutiny at Naples.” — Addison.“Praise . . . owes its value to its scarcity.” — Rambler.“The value of an advantage is enhanced by its scarceness.” — Collier.
Syn.
Deficiency; lack; want; penury; dearth; rareness; rarity; infrequency.