few

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small elite group

   it was designed for the discriminating few

2. 2
   det

   An indefinite, but usually small, number of.

   There are a few cars (=some, but a relatively small number) in the street.

3. 3
   det

   Not many; a small (in comparison with another number stated or implied) but somewhat indefinite number of.

   Very few did she have not to go there, did she?

4. 4
   det

   Obscuring one to two oktas (eighths) of the sky.

   Tonight: A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness overnight.

5. 5
   pron

   Few people, few things.

   Many are called, but few are chosen.

6. 6
   adj

   a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by `a'

7. 7
   det

   (US?) Having a 10 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch); used interchangeably with isolated.

8. 8
   name

   The pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain.

Etymology

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.