Middle English Dictionary Entry
scā̆rs(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | scā̆rs(e adv. |
| Etymology | From scā̆rs(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In little quantity, insufficiently; rarely; (b) barely; also, hardly ever; (c) temperately, abstemiously.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.557 : The knotty plaunte is best; ffor they that stonde Iknotted scars lackith fertilite.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)9/19 : Out of þe whech tombe manna and oyle walleþ out yfere, so þat men of þat contre mowun know when þay schull haue derþe and when gret chep; For when hit schall be dere, hit walleth scarce, and when hit schall be gret schep, hit walleþe plentwysly ynogh.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)49/1 : A man..nedith norisshyng and drynkes..And yf he vse that to oft or to scarce [Lambeth: ouer scarsly; L diminute], he rynneth debilite of siknesse.
b
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)912 : Scarse on þe Sunday wold he his fast breke.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.716 : Many A man was there slayn..But scars On Of Seraphes Aȝens of Tholomes ten.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.115 : Scars there he hadde Twenty thowsend Men.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)15775 : Of here x thousend ne beleft not there ful skars iij thousend men on lyve.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)410 : Over þat pitte he se a brigge..Hit was a thousand steppes to rede Of lenght and scarse a fote of brede.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)291 : He was so contracte, that his body was scarse a cubite of length.
c
- a1325 SLeg.Becket (Corp-C 145)619/274 : Faire he uedde him at is bord wiþ gret nobleie & prute, And of þe beste him sulf he et ac swuþe scarse & lute.