All 7 Uses of
scarcity
in
King Lear
- I am scarce in breath, my lord.
Scene 2.2 *scarce = barely (an amount that is less than desired)
- I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe With how deprav'd a quality—O Regan!†
Scene 2.4scarce = in short supply OR barely or hardly (by a small margin)
- Alack, the night comes on, and the high winds Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about There's scarce a bush.†
Scene 2.4
- Thou think'st 'tis much that this contentious storm Invades us to the skin: so 'tis to thee But where the greater malady is fix'd, The lesser is scarce felt.†
Scene 3.4
- I' the last night's storm I such a fellow saw; Which made me think a man a worm: my son Came then into my mind, and yet my mind Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more since.†
Scene 4.1
- The crows and choughs that wing the midway air Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down Hangs one that gathers samphire—dreadful trade!†
Scene 4.6
- He's scarce awake: let him alone awhile.†
Scene 4.7
Definitions:
-
(1)
(scarcity) shortage (having an amount that is less than desired)
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
More rarely (and typically in classic literature), scarce can be short for scarcely or hardly or barely or by a small margin -- such as in "She was scarce ten years old," or "I scarce know why."