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Where does the word "scarce" come from? It comes from Latin excarpsus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "scarce" come from? It comes from Latin excarpsus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Scarce’s story begins in Latin: excarpsus meant “plucked out.” From 'excerpere', to pick out, the root of 'excerpt'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as escars. Meant mean and sparing. It reached English by 1300s as scarce. 'make yourself scarce' dates from the 1800s. Today, scarce means insufficient for the demand.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient excarpsus "plucked out", from 'excerpere', to pick out, the root of 'excerpt'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval escars "scanty, stingy", meant mean and sparing.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s scarce "scanty", 'make yourself scarce' dates from the 1800s.