Word of the Day

Thursday, July 03, 2003

paucity

\PAW-suh-tee\ , noun;

Fewness; smallness of number; scarcity.

Smallness of quantity; insufficiency.

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Quotes:

The relative paucity of documents from this period may help to explain why no mention of David was found for such a long time.

-- Steven L. McKenzie, King David: A Biography

Just three bishops? was a regular observation made on the paucity of episcopal presence at the new dean's installation.

-- "Swiftian bite in Dean's sermon sets an agenda", Irish Times, September 13, 1999

When he came to undertake analysis in adulthood, the paucity of these early memories caused his therapist to wonder whether some painful memories were being repressed.

-- Meryle Secrest, Stephen Sondheim: A Life

From paucity of evidence, we are unable to measure them with precision.

-- Henry Thomas Buckle, History of Civilization in England

Origin:

Paucity is from Latin paucitas, from paucus, "little, few."