When a great scarcity of food was at hand he made his fortune by selling his goods for ten times what they cost him.

Such stowaways are a scarcity nowadays, the peril of torpedoes having given them cold feet.

In times of scarcity, when harvests were poor, the quartern loaf sold sometimes for two shillings, when the laborer could earn on an average only six or seven shillings a week.

Such was the general depression and scarcity of money that in many States it was difficult to raise money even to pay necessary taxes.

It is the difficulty or the scarcity of a thing that makes it treasured.

scarcity, dearth; want, need, lack, poverty, exigency; inanition, starvation, famine, drought. dole, mite, pittance; short allowance, short commons; half rations; banyan day.

Now this gave a new turn to the affair; for the time being one of general scarcity, when even Christians were reduced to the use of potato-bread, rice-bread, and all sorts of things, it was downright treason in a tom-cat to be wasting good wheaten-bread in the way he was doing.

Here we see another effect from the scarcity of artificial light amongst the ancients.

However, the first place still belongs by right to the philosopher, because of the much greater scarcity of good work in this sphere, and the high importance of it; and also because of the possibility it offers of an almost perfect translation into any language.

Their industry is limited to a little tillage, even fishing being so neglected that frequently there is a scarcity of fish.

[Scarcity of stock.

In this manner important plantations have been established in Negros, which are managed by natives of Iloilo: but there is a scarcity of laborers on the island.

Due to the rarity of the air and relative scarcity of oxygen, pneumonia is usually fatal at 8000 feet and is uniformly so at 11,000 feet.

The scarcity of violent earthquakes and also its healthfulness, both marked characteristics of Tampu-tocco, are met at Machu Picchu.

Again, at a ball at Sir Thomas Robinson's, where four-and-twenty couples danced country-dances, in two sets, twelve and twelve, 'there was Lady Sophia, handsomer than ever, but a little out of humour at the scarcity of minuets; however, as usual, dancing more than anybody, and, as usual too, she took out what men she liked, or thought the best dancers.'...

There is so great a scarcity of wood in these parts, that the inhabitants use turf or peats for fuel, as is done in Flanders.

May a scarcity of food and of the necessaries of life afflict his country.

*** An unusual scarcity of wasps is reported from various parts of the country.

Not long afterward there was again great scarcity in every corner of the land; and one night the children overheard their stepmother saying to their father, "Everything is again consumed; we have only half a loaf left, and then the song is ended: the children must be sent away.

The soldiers appeared, dressed in various costumes, as Highlanders, Poles, Spaniards, etc.; nor was there any scarcity of danseuses, who, of course, were likewise private soldiers.

There was, too, no scarcity of villages, only the huts, which were mostly built of straw and palm-leaves, were small and wretched.

My dress, the smallness of my baggage, and being alone, agreed perfectly with this; they believed him, and my silent supplicative look, and let me go; they even asked me if I would have some water, of which there is a scarcity in these villages.

The prince has at present only one regular wife, although he is allowed to have four; however, he has no scarcity of handsome female friends.

As a matter of fact, the seasons themselves decided his conduct in these difficulties; for in cold weather, or times of scarcity, his charity outran his desire for books; whereas, in the warm weather, and when there was plenty, and no pitiful starved faces gathered about his door, he bought books, instead of searching for the few who were still in need.

We had not been long in Antigua before we perceived the distress of the poor from the scarcity of water.