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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Scarce \Scarce\ (sk[^a]rs), a. [Compar. Scarcer (sk[^a]r"s[~e]r); superl. Scarcest.] [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, excarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See Carpet, and cf. Excerp.] 1. Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [1913 Webster] You tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen one fifth in value. --Locke. [1913 Webster] The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a medallion well preserved. --Addison. [1913 Webster] 2. Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -- with of. [Obs.] "A region scarce of prey." --Milton. [1913 Webster] 3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. [Obs.] "Too scarce ne too sparing." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] To make one's self scarce, to decamp; to depart. [Slang] [1913 Webster] Syn: Rare; infrequent; deficient. See Rare. [1913 Webster] Scarce