dearth
DERTH
/dɜːθ/
A scarcity or lack of something.
Often used for abstract things (a dearth of talent) but originated in the context of food prices and supplies.
The story behind the word. From the Middle English 'derthe,' related to the word 'dear' (meaning expensive). Originally, a 'dearth' was a time when food was so scarce that it became very 'dear' or expensive.
Word relationships
- paucity: Paucity emphasizes smallness of number; dearth emphasizes the lack of what is needed or desired.
- scarcity: Scarcity is more common in economic contexts; dearth is more common in literary or formal writing.
- plethora: A large or excessive amount of (something).
Commonly confused with
- death: They sound similar, and a dearth of food can lead to death, but they are distinct words.
Collocations
- dearth of information
- dearth of evidence
- dearth of resources
- apparent dearth
Example sentences
- "There is a dearth of affordable housing in the city center." Market analysis.
- "The dearth of rain led to a total crop failure and subsequent unrest." Historical text.
Memory hook
Dearth = Dear + th. When things are scarce, they become 'Dear' (expensive). Dearth = Distant and scarce.
When not to use
It's a bit formal for everyday conversation. You wouldn't say 'There's a dearth of milk in the fridge.'
Fun facts
- The word 'dearth' is one of the few English words where the '-th' suffix (like in 'warmth' or 'length') is added to an adjective ('dear') that we still use today.
Related words
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