How Do You Spell SCARCELY?

Pronunciation: [skˈe͡əsli] (IPA)

Scarcely is a tricky word to spell because it doesn't follow the usual rules of spelling. The word is pronounced "skairsli" (IPA: skɛərsli) but it has a silent "s" which can throw off even the most seasoned spellers. The first syllable is pronounced with the "ai" sound as in "air" and the second syllable has a soft "c" sound as in "cent". It means "barely" or "almost not" and is often used in negative sentences such as "I can scarcely believe it."

SCARCELY Meaning and Definition

  1. Scarcely is an adverb that is used to indicate something is barely present or deficient in quantity or degree. It is a term that emphasizes a lack or insufficiency, often suggesting that something is barely enough or almost nonexistent.

    In terms of time, scarcely refers to a short period or a moment ago. It indicates that something happened barely or just barely occurred, highlighting that it nearly did not happen at all. For instance, one might say, "He had scarcely arrived when the phone rang," to convey that his arrival had just taken place when the phone started ringing.

    Regarding manner or approach, scarcely is used to imply a lack of enthusiasm, gusto, or energy. It suggests that something is being done with minimal effort, interest, or compliance. For example, the phrase "She scarcely acknowledged his presence," suggests that she barely acknowledged or acknowledged with little interest or attention his presence.

    Furthermore, scarcely is employed to express doubt or disagreement, often implying that something is difficult to believe or accept. It conveys the notion that the speaker finds something hard to accept or finds it questionable. For instance, one might state, "He scarcely seemed concerned about the consequences," to signify that the person's apparent lack of concern is surprising or hard to comprehend.

    Overall, scarcely is used to emphasize scarcity, shortage, or limited existence, as well as to express doubts, disbelief, or indifference. It serves to highlight the smallness, inadequacy, or rarity of something.

  2. Hardly; with difficulty.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for SCARCELY *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SCARCELY

Etymology of SCARCELY

The word "scarcely" can be traced back to its origins in Middle English. It is derived from the Old French word "escars", which means "rare" or "scarce". This Old French word itself was derived from the Latin word "excarpsus", which means "picked out" or "selected with care". Over time, the word evolved in Middle English to "scarsly", which eventually became "scarcely" in modern English.

Idioms with the word SCARCELY

  • scarcely ever The idiom "scarcely ever" is used to describe something that rarely or almost never occurs. It indicates a very infrequent or nearly non-existent event or situation.
  • hardly/scarcely etc. earthshattering The idiom "hardly/scarcely earthshattering" refers to something that is not significant, important, or impressive. It suggests that an event or situation is unremarkable or inconsequential, lacking the ability to create a strong impact or impression. It is often used to downplay the importance or magnitude of something.
  • (one) can scarcely believe (one's) eyes The idiom "(one) can scarcely believe (one's) eyes" refers to a situation where something is so surprising or unbelievable that it is difficult to comprehend or accept what is currently being observed visually. It conveys a sense of astonishment or incredulity at what is being witnessed.

Similar spelling words for SCARCELY

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