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.