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exiguous

adjective
ex·​ig·​u·​ous | \ ig-ˈzi-gyÉ™-wÉ™s How to pronounce exiguous (audio) \

Definition of exiguous

: excessively scanty : inadequate wrest an exiguous existence from the land exiguous evidence
Other Words from exiguous Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about exiguous

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Other Words from exiguous

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."

Examples of exiguous in a Sentence

computer equipment that would be prohibitively expensive, given the rural school's exiguous resources

First Known Use of exiguous

1630, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for exiguous

Latin exiguus, from exigere

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More from Merriam-Webster on exiguous

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with exiguous

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for exiguous

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