Slight vs Scarce - What's the difference?

Slight is a related term of scarce.

As adjectives the difference between slight and scarce

is that slight is small, weak or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe while scarce is uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand.

As a verb slight

is to treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.

As a noun slight

is the act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.

As an adverb scarce is

scarcely, only just.

slight

English

Adjective

(er)

Small, weak or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.

* (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)

Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.

* (John Locke) (1632-1705)

Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.

* {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)

, chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,

Not stout or heavy; slender.

* Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)

his own figure, which was formerly so slight

(obsolete) Foolish; silly; weak in intellect.

(Hudibras)

Synonyms

* See also

Derived terms

* slightish * slightly * slightness

Verb

(en verb)

To treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.

* Cowper

the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies

To treat with disdain or neglect.

To act negligently or carelessly.

(military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.

(Clarendon)

To make even or level.

(Hexham)

To throw heedlessly.

* Shakespeare

The rogue slighted me into the river.

Synonyms

* See also

Derived terms

* slightingly

Noun

(wikipedia slight) (en noun)

The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.

* (Benjamin Franklin)

Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.

Sleight.

(Spenser)

Synonyms

* See also

Derived terms

* put a slight upon

References

(Webster 1913)

Anagrams

* lights

scarce

English

(wikipedia scarce)

Adjective

(er)

Uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand.

* (John Locke)

You tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen one fifth in value.

* , chapter=3

, title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.}}

Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); used with of .

* (John Milton)

A region scarce of prey.

Adverb

(-)

Scarcely, only just.

* Milton

With a scarce well-lighted flame.

* 1854 , (Edgar Allen Poe), (The Raven):

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure that I heard you [...].

* 1898 , , (Moonfleet) Chapter 4:

Yet had I scarce set foot in the passage when I stopped, remembering how once already this same evening I had played the coward, and run home scared with my own fears.

* 1931 , William Faulkner, Sanctuary , Vintage 1993, p. 122:

Upon the barred and slitted wall the splotched shadow of the heaven tree shuddered and pulsed monstrously in scarce any wind.