All 5 Uses
scarcity
in
Volpone
(Auto-generated)
- MOS: Without a partner, sir; confirm'd this morning: The wax is warm yet, and the ink scarce dry Upon the parchment.†
Act 1 *scarce = in short supply OR barely or hardly (by a small margin)
- And, for his part, he thought he should be blest To have his heir of such a suffering spirit, So wise, so grave, of so perplex'd a tongue, And loud withal, that would not wag, nor scarce Lie still, without a fee; when every word Your worship but lets fall, is a chequin!†
Act 1
- A lawyer could not have been heard; nor scarce Another woman, such a hail of words She has let fall.†
Act 3
- —O, sir, most timely welcome— VOLT: Scarce, To the discovery of your tricks, I fear.†
Act 3
- SIR P: First, for your garb, it must be grave and serious, Very reserv'd, and lock'd; not tell a secret On any terms, not to your father; scarce A fable, but with caution; make sure choice Both of your company, and discourse; beware You never speak a truth— PER: How!†
Act 4
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."