English
Etymology
Middle English derþe, probably from Old English *dierþu; corresponding to dear + -th.
Pronunciation
IPA|/d��θ/, SAMPA|/d3`T/
audio|en-us-dearth.ogg|Audio (US)
:* Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-��(r)θ|-��(r)θ
Noun
en-noun
- context|obsolete|rare dearness|Dearness; the quality of being rare or costly.
- A period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine.
#*1608, William Shakespeare, King Lear:
#*:I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed unhappily: as of unnaturalness between the child and the parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities; divisions in state, menaces and maledictions against king and nobles; needless diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what.
- context|by extension scarcity|Scarcity; a lack or short supply.
Synonyms
paucity
scarcity
Translations
Finnish: nälänhätä
French: pénurie f
mid
German: Fehlen n, Mangel m
Portuguese: escasso n, raro m
famine:
German: Hungersnot f
Anagrams
thread
et:dearth
fa:dearth
fr:dearth
io:dearth
it:dearth
fi:dearth
te:dearth
vi:dearth
zh:dearth
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