Scant

Adjective

Definition: Barely sufficient or adequate.

Definition: Not plentiful or abundant; scarce.

Synonyms: Limited, Meager, Inadequate

Antonyms: Abundant, Plentiful, Ample

Examples:
  • They could only afford a scant amount of food.
  • The river's supply of water was scant during the drought.
Mnemonics:
  • Think of "scant" as sounding similar to "scanty," which means not enough or lacking in quantity.

Etymology:

Origin:

Middle English 'scanten', from Old Norse 'skamt', which means "short of" or "insufficient".

Historical Usage:

The word "scant" has been used in English since the 14th century, maintaining its meaning of scarcity or insufficiency throughout history.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Scantily clad"

Explanation:

Refers to someone who is wearing revealing or minimal clothing.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "scant" with "scat".

Explanation:

"Scant" refers to something being insufficient or scarce, while "scat" is slang for excrement.

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