Scarce (4)
'scarce' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for few that I've seen before include "Hardly anyone" , "Only one or two" , "Relatively small number" , "'''Many are called but ... are chosen'' (Bible) (3)'" , "Not many, just a handful" .)
(Other definitions for dear that I've seen before include "Costly (but loved!)" , "Precious" , "Pricey" , "Treasured" , "Beloved or costly" .)
'scarce' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for rare that I've seen before include "Seldom seen or met" , "early" , "Not easily come by like undercooked meat" , "Scarcely seen" , "(Of meat) red" .)
'scarce' is the definition.
(associated in meaning)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for meagre that I've seen before include "Scanty, skimpy" , "Scarce - scanty" , "'Stingy, skimpy (6)'" , "unsatisfactorily small in amount" , "deficient in amount" .)
(Other definitions for sparse that I've seen before include "rarely occurring" , "Infrequent" , "Far from lavish" , "Scarce like thinning hair" , "Meagre, thin on the ground" .)
(Other definitions for scanty that I've seen before include "Of small extent; barely sufficient" , "brief" , "(Of clothing) barely adequate" , "Insufficient in amount" , "Modest" .)
'scarce' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for in short supply that I've seen before include "Not often seen" , "Not enough to satisfy demand" , "Rarely seen" , "Scarce" .)