derth

Noun

dearth (countable and uncountable, plural dearths)

1. A period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine.

   Synonyms:

   famine, shortage

2. (broadly) Scarcity; a lack or short supply.
   • 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...c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...

   Synonyms:

   lack, paucity, scarcity

3. (obsolete) Dearness; the quality of being rare or costly.
   • Whatsoever doth remaine for money, let Money-mongers, supply when they will. And I referre to Politicians to dispute among themselves whether the dearth of all things which most complaine of doeth proceede from plenty of gold and silver since the late discoveries, or from Monopolies, and...1614, William Camden, Remaines, concerning Britaine: but especially England, and the …, page 210

See all 4 meanings of dearth