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