Hypertext Webster Gateway: "scarceness"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Scarceness \Scarce"ness\, Scarcity \Scar"ci*ty\, n.
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 beauties. --Chaucer.
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
scarceness
n : a small and inadequate amount [syn: {scarcity}] [ant: {abundance}]
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