Scarce /(skârs)/

Scarce

a.
  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.
    The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a medallion well preserved.
  2. Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -- with of. [Obs.]
  3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. [Obs.]

Phrases & Compounds
To make one's self scarce
to decamp; to depart.

Scarce

adv.
  1. With difficulty; hardly; scantly; barely; but just.
    With a scarce well-lighted flame.
    The eldest scarcely five year was of age.
    Slowly she sails, and scarcely stems the tides.
    He had scarcely finished, when the laborer arrived who had been sent for my ransom.
  2. Frugally; penuriously. [Obs.]