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exiguous

adjective

ex·​ig·​u·​ous ig-ˈzi-gyə-wəs How to pronounce exiguous (audio)
: excessively scanty : inadequate
wrest an exiguous existence from the land
exiguous evidence
exiguously adverb
exiguousness noun

Did you know?

Exiguous is so expansive sounding that you might expect it to mean "extensive" instead of "meager." Even a scanty glimpse at the word's etymology will disabuse you of that notion, however. Exiguous derives from the Latin exiguus, which has the same basic meaning as the modern English term. Exiguus, in turn, derives from the Latin verb exigere, which is variously translated as "to demand," "to drive out," or "to weigh or measure." The idea of weighing or measuring so precisely as to be parsimonious or petty gave exiguous its present sense of inadequacy. Just so we aren't accused of being skimpy with the details, we should also mention that exigere is the parent term underlying other English words including exact and exigent.

Example Sentences

computer equipment that would be prohibitively expensive, given the rural school's exiguous resources
Recent Examples on the Web Their taste is undeveloped or chronically exiguous. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 2 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin exiguus, from exigere

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exiguous was in 1630

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