Scarce (skârs), a. [Compar.Scarcer (skâr″sẽr); superl.Scarcest.] [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, excarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See Carpet, and cf. Excerp.] 1. Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon.
You tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen one fifth in value. Locke.
The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a medallion well preserved. Addison.
2. Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); — with of. “A region scarce of prey.” Milton.
3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. “Too scarce ne too sparing.” Chaucer.
To make one's self scarce, to decamp; to depart.
Syn. — Rare; infrequent; deficient. See Rare.