exiguous

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪɡˈzɪɡjuəs/ UK /ɛɡˈzɪɡjuəs/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
very small in size or amount; scanty

They survived on an exiguous ration of bread and water.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · very small in size or... scanty meager sparse slender paltryskimpyslight

Opposites

abundant ample plentiful copious

Word family

Derived forms exiguouslyexiguityexiguousness

Related forms exiguity

Etymology

From Latin exiguus ('small, scanty, measured out'), from exigere ('to weigh out, measure'), from ex- ('out') + agere ('to drive, weigh').

exiguus Latin exigere Latin agere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# exiguous

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ɪɡˈzɪɡjuəs
**IPA (UK):** ɛɡˈzɪɡjuəs

## Meanings
1. very small in size or amount; scanty

## Examples
- They survived on an exiguous ration of bread and water.

## Synonyms
- scanty
- meager
- sparse
- slender
- paltry
- skimpy
- slight

## Antonyms
- abundant
- ample
- plentiful
- copious

## Derived Forms
- exiguously
- exiguity
- exiguousness

## Related Forms
- exiguity

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: exiguus
- Root: exigere
- Root: agere

## Etymology
From Latin exiguus ('small, scanty, measured out'), from exigere ('to weigh out, measure'), from ex- ('out') + agere ('to drive, weigh').

## AI Etymology
Exiguous comes from Latin exiguus ('small, scanty, measured out'), from exigere ('to weigh out, measure'), from ex- ('out') + agere ('to drive, weigh'). The historical trail runs through Latin exiguus, Latin exigere and Latin agere. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means very small in size or amount; scanty. Derived formations include exiguously, exiguity, exiguousness; related forms include exiguity.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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