ˈscanting, ppl. a.
[f. scant v. + -ing2.]
† a. Inclined to be sparing or niggardly; chary in giving or bestowing. Obs.
| 1613 Uncasing of Machiav. 22 At such a time of care friends are scanting. 1674 J. B[rian] Harv. Home iv. 25 Gods hand in pouring forth will not be scanting. |
b. Decreasing, diminishing. rare.
| 1916 Kipling Tales of ‘The Trade’ 107 It was necessary to go down at once and waste whole minutes of the precious scanting light. |
Hence † ˈscantingly adv.
| 1627 W. Sclater Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 261 Scantingly, it should seeme, the Lord had distributed to these poore Artisans..the good things of this life. a 1661 Fuller Worthies, Wilts (1662) iii. 148 Richard Smart..but once, and that scentingly [? read scantingly] mentioned by Mr. Fox. |