scarce

(adj) - If something is scarce, there is not very much of it available. You can make yourself scarce by leaving a place, especially in order to avoid an unpleasant situation.

• Synonyms: not enough, insufficient, in short supply, limited, almost out, scanty, sparse, few and far between
• Antonyms: plentiful, abundant, sufficient
• Etymology: 1300 Latin, from excarpere meaning "pluck out." This comes from ex- meaning "out"+ carpere meaning "pluck, gather," which comes from PIE *kerp- meaning "to gather, pluck, harvest"
• Morphology: scarcely - adv, scarcity - n
• Example: If we don't take steps to conserve, our natural resources will become more and more scarce.