scarcely
|scarce/ly|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈskɛrsli/
🇬🇧
/ˈskeəsli/
(scarce)
limited availability
Etymology
Etymology Information
'scarcely' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'scarsly', where 'scarce' meant 'insufficient'.
Historical Evolution
'scarsly' transformed into the modern English word 'scarcely'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'insufficiently', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'almost not'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
only just; almost not.
She could scarcely believe her eyes.
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Antonyms
Adverb 2
used to suggest that something is unlikely to be or certainly not the case.
He could scarcely have known what was going to happen.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39