All 5 Uses

scarcity
in
The Life and Death of King Richard III
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I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deform'd, unfinish'd, sent before my time Into this breathing world scarce half made up, And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them;†
Scene 1.1

scarce = in short supply OR barely or hardly (by a small margin)
—Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing while, But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.†
Scene 1.3 *
Meantime, God grants that we have need of you: Our brother is imprison'd by your means, Myself disgrac'd, and the nobility Held in contempt; while great promotions Are daily given to ennoble those That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble.†
Scene 1.3
Peace, master marquis, you are malapert: Your fire-new stamp of honour is scarce current: O, that your young nobility could judge What 'twere to lose it, and be miserable!†
Scene 1.3
—When he that is my husband now Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse; When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his hands Which issued from my other angel husband, And that dear saint which then I weeping follow'd; O, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face, This was my wish,—"Be thou," quoth I, "accurs'd For making me, so young, so old a widow!†
Scene 4.1

Definitions:

(1) (scarcity)
shortage (having an amount that is less than desired)
(2) (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."