Scarceness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Scarceness \Scarce"ness\, Scarcity \Scar"ci*ty\, n.
     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.
     [1913 Webster]


  
           A scarcity of snow would raise a mutiny at Naples.
                                                    --Addison.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Praise . . . owes its value to its scarcity. --Rambler.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The value of an advantage is enhanced by its
           scarceness.                              --Collier.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Deficiency; lack; want; penury; dearth; rareness;
          rarity; infrequency.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  scarceness
       n : a small and inadequate amount [syn: {scarcity}] [ant: {abundance}]