A period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine. / (by extension) Scarcity; a lack or short supply. / (obsolete) Dearness; the quality of being rare or costly.

plural of dearth

Involving a dearth or lack; barren. / (Scotland, obsolete) Expensive.

comparative form of dearthy: more dearthy

Marked by dearth; exhibiting scarcity, paucity, or lack.