adj.
Pronunciation: ' skers
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: 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