catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Scant \Scant\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
     Scanting.]
     1. To limit; to straiten; to treat illiberally; to stint; as,
        to scant one in provisions; to scant ourselves in the use
        of necessaries.
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              Where a man hath a great living laid together and
              where he is scanted.                  --Bacon.
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              I am scanted in the pleasure of dwelling on your
              actions.                              --Dryden.
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     2. To cut short; to make small, narrow, or scanty; to
        curtail. ``Scant not my cups.'' --Shak.
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  Scant \Scant\, v. i.
     To fail, or become less; to scantle; as, the wind scants.
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  Scant \Scant\, adv.
     In a scant manner; with difficulty; scarcely; hardly. [Obs.]
     --Bacon.
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           So weak that he was scant able to go down the stairs.
                                                    --Fuller.
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  Scant \Scant\, a. [Compar. Scanter; superl. Scantest.]
     [Icel. skamt, neuter of skamr, skammr, short; cf. skamta to
     dole out, to portion.]
     1. Not full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; less
        than is wanted for the purpose; scanty; meager; not
        enough; as, a scant allowance of provisions or water; a
        scant pattern of cloth for a garment.
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              His sermon was scant, in all, a quarter of an hour.
                                                    --Ridley.
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     2. Sparing; parsimonious; chary.
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              Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence. --Shak.
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     Syn: See under Scanty.
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  Scant \Scant\, n.
     Scantness; scarcity. [R.] --T. Carew.
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