Category:Scarceness

Scarce"ness, scar"ci*ty, n.

Defn: 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. Chaucer. 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.