few

Meanings

1. 1
   det

   A small number of; not many.

   Very few people came to the meeting.

2. 2
   det

   Some, but a relatively small number (with 'a').

   There are a few cars in the street.

3. 3
   pron

   A small number of people or things.

   Many are called, but few are chosen.

4. 4
   noun

   A small, special group.

   The luxury car was designed for the discriminating few.

From Middle English fewe, from Old English fēaw (“few”), from Proto-West Germanic *fau, from Proto-Germanic *fawaz (“few”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- (“few, small”). Cognate with Old Saxon fā (“few”), Old High German fao, fō (“few, little”), Old Norse fár (“few”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍃 (faus, “few”). Also related with Latin paucus (“little, few”) and pauper (“poor”), from which latter English poor and pauper; see these.

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