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Webster 1913 Edition
Scarcity
{
Scarce′ness
,Scar′ci-ty
, }Noun.
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 beautiesChaucer.
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.