Few

Definition: Few

Few

Adjective

1. (quantifier used with count nouns; often preceded by `a') a small number; "a few weeks ago"; "a few more wagons than usual"; "an invalid's pleasures are few and far between"; "few roses were still blooming"; "few women have led troops in battle".

Noun

1. An indefinite but relatively small number; "they bought a case of beer and drank a few".

2. A small elite group; "it was designed for the discriminating few".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "few" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

Tips from 1870

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Infrequency

Adjective: unfrequent, infrequent; rare, rare as a blue diamond; few; scarce; almost unheard of, unprecedented, which has not occurred within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, not within one's previous experience; not since Adam.

Smallness

Adjective: small, little; diminutive; (small in size); minute; fine; inconsiderable, paltry; (unimportant); faint; (weak); slender, light, slight, scanty, scant, limited; meager; (insufficient); sparing; few; low, so-so, middling, tolerable, no great shakes; below par, under par, below the mark; at a low ebb; halfway; moderate, modest; tender, subtle.

Crosswords: Few

These tracks are just a few days old. (Memento; writing credit: Bo Goldman; Lawrence Hauben)

I pulled a few strings (From Here to Eternity; writing credit: Ernest Tidyman)

Or too few. (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers; writing credit: Frances Walsh)

In the last few weeks he's gone to Harvard and Berkley, I think he can get a passport (Catch Me If You Can; writing credit: Frank Abagnale Jr.; Stan Redding)

Or, maybe make a few friends among us cons (The Shawshank Redemption; writing credit: Frank Darabont)

I've had a few little love affairs (Lay All Your Love On Me; performing artist: Abba)

A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I NEED TO KNOW (Never Ever; performing artist: All Saints)

And, since we 'bout to go, in a few (If I Could Go; performing artist: Angie Martinez)

Could've used a few pounds (Night Moves; performing artist: BOB SEGER; writing credit: Bob Seger)

Grant that we may be of the chosen few. (One With Darkness; performing artist: Cher)

Few sinners are saved after the first twenty minutes of a sermon. (references; author: Mark Twain)

I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few. (references; author: unknown)

Communication by empathy is a talent that few possess. (references; author: unknown)

Love many, trust few, and always paddle your own canoe. (references; author: unknown)

May your trouble be like the old man's teeth: few and far between. (references; author: unknown)

Few free fruit flies fly from flames. (references; author: unknown)

Angels Are So Few (1970)

A Few Notes on Our Food Problem (1968)

Hell's Chosen Few (1968)

Love with a Few Hairs (1967)

Never So Few (1959)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Books

• How Few Remain (reference)

• Life's Little Instruction Book, Volume Ii A Few More Suggestions, Observations, And Reminders On How To Live A Happy And Rewarding Life (reference)

• Relax-You May Have Only a Few Minutes Left: Using the Power of Humor to Overcome Stress in Your Life and Work (reference)

  (more book examples)

Theater & Movies

• Touchpoints, Vol. 1: Pregnancy, Birth and the First Few Weeks of Life (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music

• A Few Small Repairs (reference)

• Let My Words Be Few (reference)

• Music From 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly' & 'A Fistful Of Dollars' & 'For A Few Dollars More' (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

(4) color slides show different types of candy. (1) group of four gummy bears, (1) group of two gum drops, (1) package of M & M's next to a few single M & M's, (1) three single M & M's. Credit: Renee Comet (photographer).

(1) color slide shows a small box of Sunmaid Raisins next to a few single raisins. Credit: Renee Comet (photographer).

Front of Building 1, CDC,late 1980's. The front of Building 1 has changed over the last few decades. See PHIL_1073, and PHIL_1074 for more recent images. Credit: CDC.

Histopathology of lung shows widened alveolar septum containing a few inflammatory cells and numerous yeasts of Cryptococcus neoformans. Credit: CDC.

"Ethane" by Daniel Bentham and Staffan Björkenstam. Use the Scrollbar to vary A and C. High resolution, may take a few seconds to generate.

"Asterias" by Rainer Wonisch. Very high resolution; might take a few seconds to generate.

Astronomers have long been mystified by observations of a few hot, bright, apparently young ... Credit: NASA.

Gas stations are few and far between Bush plane operations in Alaska. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

Lt. Ken Perrin catching a few winks after a hard day installing a tide gauge Boston Whaler off WHITING. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

Bayou Lafourche was the main channel of the Mississippi River a few thousand years ago. As river bed fills, the river changes course seeking a steeper slope to the sea. If allowed to follow its natural cycle, the Mississippi River would be in the process of changing its course into the bed of the Atchafalaya River. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

But there are but few miscarriages which bring the matter to this state. (Second Treatise of Government)

It has agglomerated production, and has concentrated property in a few hands. (reference)

But if the dangers of war and tyranny are removed, there is no doubt that science and co-operation can bring in the next few years to the world, certainly in the next few decades newly taught in the sharpening school of war, an expansion of material well-being beyond anything that has yet occurred in human experience. ("Iron Curtain" Speech)

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

The rest of the gentlemen being now in the room, Emma found herself obliged to turn from him for a few minutes, and listen to Mr. Cole

I moved away a few steps, and waited to follow her into the carriage, where I resumed the conversation

Secrets that few would like to scrutinise were bred and hidden in mountains of unseemly rags, masses of corrupted fat, and sepulchres of bones

Any sophisticated knowledgable person, who had knocked about, seen a few things, would probably have remarked on how much the craft looked like a filing cabinet--a large and recently burgled filing cabinet lying on its back with its drawers in the air and flying

Thus, on taking charge of my department, I found few but aged men.

While he still went out, he had bought of a brazier for a few sous a little copper crucifix which he had hung upon a nail before his bed.

It would be lovely in a few minutes

We can use quite a few.

I answered they were innumerable, but I should only mention a few of the chief

There is but one way to obtain it, yet few take that way.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

They often go away after a few hours. (references)

Cultures take a few days to complete. (references)

Often they are only a few pages in length. (references)

Business

Few appeals are successful. (references)

Few companies generate significant revenues in this market. (references)

Tricon will be looking to develop KFC over the next few years. (references)

Children

Vanuatu

Few children advance beyond elementary school. (references)

Cote d'Ivoire

Many children leave school after only a few years. (references)

Central African Republic

Churches and NGO's have relatively few programs for youths. (references)

Civil Liberties

Russia

A few are asylum seekers. (references)

Moldova

Few residents have satellite television. (references)

Cote d'Ivoire

A few students were arrested and detained briefly. (references)

Discrimination

Ireland

The Constitution forbids state promotion of one religion over another and discrimination on the grounds of religion, profession, belief, or status; however, until recently few laws implemented these provisions of the Constitution. (references)

Economic History

Norway

Few believe this is possible. (references)

Norway

Trade barriers are relatively few. (references)

Human Rights

Kenya

Very few can afford attorneys. (references)

Dominican Republic

As a rule, few defendants are granted bail. (references)

Vietnam

The pretrial detention system provides few rights. (references)

Indigenous People

El Salvador

In reality, very few persons speak the indigenous language of Nahuatl. (references)

Colombia

Few opportunities exist for those who might wish to participate more fully in modern life. (references)

El Salvador

Few possessed titles to land, and bank loans and other forms of credit were extremely limited. (references)

Minorities

Yugoslavia

Very few ethnic Albanians are employed by municipal governments in the region. (references)

China

By some estimates, 250,000 Han have moved into the region annually in the last few years. (references)

Nepal

Some Christian groups report that Hindu fundamentalism has increased in the past few years. (references)

Political Economy

Croatia

Security forces committed a few abuses. (references)

URUGUAY

Few significant restrictions exist in services. (references)

UKRAINE

Import licenses are required for very few goods. (references)

Political Rights

Egypt

At a few locations, the security presence was so heavy as to inhibit voters' access to the polls. (references)

Thailand

No laws prohibit the political participation of ethnic minorities, but few hold positions of authority in national politics. (references)

Czech Republic

Few Roma serve in local government structures, although some have been appointed to advisory positions in government ministries. (references)

Trade

Nicaragua

Few restrictions exist. (references)

Nicaragua

Few export controls remain in place. (references)

Israel

Israel maintains very few export controls. (references)

Travel

Vietnam

Few Vietnamese probably share that optimism. (references)

Czech Rep

Start slowly by building a few good relationships. (references)

Armenia

A few banks have started to cash travelers' checks. (references)

Women

Somalia

A few rapes were prosecuted during the year. (references)

Morocco

Thus, few women report abuses to the authorities. (references)

Bangladesh

Few perpetrators of the acid attacks are prosecuted. (references)

Worker Rights

Korea

As few as two employees may form a union. (references)

Uruguay

Most complaints are resolved within a few months. (references)

New Zealand

A few small, independent labor unions also exist. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "few": A few ♦ a few days ♦ a few days later ♦ a few doors off ♦ a few friends ♦ a few miles distant ♦ a few more ♦ a few more days ♦ a few of ♦ a few times ♦ a few weeks ♦ a good few ♦ a privileged few ♦ a smart few ♦ all too few ♦ allow me to point out a few mistakes ♦ be only a few removes from ♦ dash of a few lines ♦ every few days ♦ few and far ♦ few and far between ♦ few in number ♦ few people ♦ few remain ♦ for the past few days ♦ good few ♦ have a few ♦ in a few days ♦ in a few minutes ♦ in few ♦ in few words ♦ it is a matter of a few days ♦ man of few words ♦ no few ♦ not a few ♦ of few words ♦ only a few ♦ precious few ♦ quite a few ♦ shed a few tears ♦ some few ♦ the few ♦ too few. Additional references.

Beginning with "few": few-branched, few-brown, few-flowered leek, few-minutes, few-to-many.

Ending with "few": a-few, all-too-few, best-few, Feather-few, fever-few, many-to-few, past-few.

Afrikaans

paar. (various references)

Albanian

pakicë (exiguity, fewness, minority, paucity, tenuity), pak (briefly, dab, just, just a little, little, narrowly, rather, slightly, some, somewhat, to some extent), i pakët (exiguous, lean, limited, little, low, marginal, meager, meagre, measly, modest, narrow, picayune, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, scrimpy, skimpy, slender, small, spare, sparing, thin, wee). (various references)

Arabic 

قَلِيل, ‏قليل (little, scarce, slight, small), ‏قلة (dearth, jar, lack, morsel, paucity, rareness, scarceness, shortage), ‏بعض (any, little, several, some, somewhat). (various references)

Basque

guti (few a). (various references)

Breton

nebeud. (various references)

Bulgarian 

малцина, малко (any, awhile, bit, little, remotely, several, slightly, some, somewhat, sort of). (various references)

Chinese 

鮮 (fresh, rare), 些 (several, some), 尟 (rare), 少数 (Minorities, minority, Paucity), 少數 (minority, small number), 少 (lack, little, young), 小 (small, tiny, young), 寡 (widowed). (various references)

Czech

pár (couple, doublet, pair, several, some), nìkolik (couple, several, some), málo (little, paucity). (various references)

Danish

få-til-mange-betjening (few-to-many service), med maaske nogle faa undtagelser i producerende formationer med lavt tryk eller i formationer,som er tynde og underkastet et svagt vandtryk,er produktion gennem perforeringer klart at foretraekke frem for produktion fra uforet hul (the benefits of the perforated completion overshadow those of the open hole type, with perhaps a few exceptions in low pressure or thin water-drive pay areas), astmasymptomer viser sig som regel ikke før efter få timers forløb,og de forværres ved fysisk anstrengelse.Hvile og lægetilsyn er derfor vigtigt (the symptoms of asthma often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort.Rest and medical observation is therefore essential), de faa aerosoler, som dannes i bestraalingshullerne, tilbageholdes praktisk talt fuldstaendigt, naar ventilationsluften inden frigivelsen passerer gennem forfiltre og absolutfiltre (before dischargem by the flow of ventilation air over pre-filters and high efficiency filters ( so-called 'absolute' filters ), the few aerosols which are produced in the irradiation channels ( sometimes called experimental holes ) are virtually arrested), der tilsaettes nogle draaber af en frisk tilberedt 0,5%'s vandig oploesning af xylenolorange og titreres med en 1/10 N-komplexon III oploesning,til farven slaar om fra rosa til citrongult (add a few drops of a 0.5% freshly prepared aqueous solution of xylenol orange and titrate with an N/10 solution of Complexon III until the pink changes to citron yellow), disse forgreninger,der vokser i nogle faa foretrukne retninger,deler sig i yderligere sidegrene (branches which grow forward in a few special directions form side branches), ethvert elektronroer, som arbejder ved en spaending paa over nogle faa tusinde volt, kan vaere en kilde til roentgenstraaling (any electronic tube operating at a potential above a few thousand volts may be a source of X-radiation), aaringen fremkommer ved,at de store korn indeholder mindre omraader,hvis krystalgitre afviger nogle faa grader indbyrdes i orientering (disoriented by a few degrees in relation to each other, the veining occurs because the large crystal grains contain small domains), kun nogle faa korn aetses meget moerke,de ligger fordelt i et netvaerk (only a few particles are darkly stained and can be seen to form a network type of distribution), under visse driftsbetingelser kan apparater, hvori elektroner accelereres, og som arbejder ved spaendinger hoejere end nogle faa kV, udsende straaling (under certain operating conditions electron accelerating devices working at voltages greater than a few kV may emit radiation), nogle arbejdsmedicinske laboratorier benytter taelling af basofile granulocyter,andre maaler bly-og/eller coproporphyrinindeholdet i urin (some industrial hygiene laboratories use stippled counts; a few, urinary lead and/or coproporphyrin levels), nogle faa grader celcius derover optraeder meget smaa,nye korn,der vokser og derpaa stoeder sammen,det er den egentlige rekrystallisation (on increasing the temperature by a few degrees celsius very small new grains appear which grow and link up, this is recrystallization), oligotrof vådomraade med meget lavt mineralindhold (oligotrophic water containing very few minerals), overfoerelse udfra et mindre antal basispunkter,som er indbyrdes strengt forbundne,saaledes at man undgaar ophobninger af fejl,som fremkaldes af kaedeoverfoerelser (setting out based on a few strictly interrelated reference points, thus avoiding cumulation of errors due to many successive measurements), slidlag af stoebeasfalt hoerer til blandt bituminoese belaegninger med lav hulrumsprocent (guss asphalt surfacing is one of the bituminous road surfacings in which there are few voids), symptomerne på lungeødem viser sig ofte ikke før få timer senere,og de forværres ved fysisk anstrengelse.Hvile og lægetilsyn er derfor vigtigt (the symptoms of lung oedema often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort.Rest and medical observation is therefore essential), tykkelsen af det lag,der indeholder soemmene,er nogle centimeter;det omfatter altsaa foruden den meget finkornede randzone ogsaa soejlekrystallisationszonen (and thus both the columnar as well as the very fine-grained surface zone are involved, the thickness of metal containing the solidification contours is of the order of a few centimeters), hvis hudens tykkelse gaar ned til nogle mm,kan gasblaererne undertiden udmunde i overfladen.Efter genopvarmningen i dybovnen oxyderes de og viser saa linier paa overfladen af det valsede produkt (there is a risk that the blowholes will be exposed at the surface after reheating in the soaking pits. If this happens, they become oxidized and give rise to seams on the rolled products, when the thickness of the skin drops to a few millimetres). (various references)

Dutch

weinig (little). (various references)

Esperanto

malmultaj. (various references)

Faeroese

fáir, fáar, fá. (various references)

Finnish

vähän (a bit, a little, a trifle, little, some), harva (coarse, loose, not dense, sparse, thin). (various references)

French

peu de, peu. (various references)

Frisian

in pear (a few, any, some). (various references)

German

wenige (a few, sparsely), wenig (a little, less, little, little (less, not much, poco, scant, small, sparse). (various references)

Greek 

λίγοι (some). (various references)

Haitian Creole

detwa (a few). (various references)

Hawaiian

disa (a few, any, some). (various references)

Hebrew 

מועט (exiguous, little, scanty, skimpy, small, triffle), מעטים, מעט (less, little, mite, slightly, some, sprinkling). (various references)

Hungarian

nem sok (little), kevés (a little, bare, be short of by, exiguous, little, little if any, little or no, scant, scarce, slight, slim, tight). (various references)

Icelandic

nokkrum. (various references)

Indonesian

segelintir (a few, a little amount of), berbilang (a few, some). (various references)

Italian

qualche (a certain amount of, a few, any, some), pochi, poca, alquanti (several, some), alcuni (any, divers, some, some people). (various references)

Japanese Kanji 

少ない (a little, insufficient, scarce, seldom), 少し (little, little while, small quantity, something). (various references)

Japanese Katakana 

すくない (a little, insufficient, scarce, seldom), すこし (little, little while, short distance, small quantity, something), しょうすう (decimal, fraction, minority), きんしょう (gold general, insignificant, little, proximity), さしょう (false statement, little, misrepresentation, slight, trifling, visa), ぶぜい (be outnumbered or overwhelmed, numerical inferiority, outside the department), ほのか (faint, indistinct, stupid), かしょう (approval, burn, Chinese merchants abroad, little, praise, receptacle, riverbed, scald, scanty, singing, song, temporary name, too few, too small, undeserved praise), りょうりょうたる (lonesome, rare), じゃっかん (aged 20, number of, some, youthfulness). (various references)

Korean 

거의 없. (various references)

Luxembourgish

puer. (various references)

Manx

tiark (rare, scanty, scarce, short, sparse, sporadic, tight, tight of money), kuse veg (little), dy jiark, beg (dwarf, model, narrow, poky, quiet, short, slight, small). (various references)

Norwegian

få (get, have, receive). (various references)

Occitan

pauc. (various references)

Papiamen

algun (a few, any, some). (various references)

Pig Latin

ewfay.(various references)

Polish

kilkoro (a few, any, some), kilka (a few, any, some), jacyś (a few, any, some). (various references)

Portuguese

poucos, poucas. (various references)

Portuguese Brazilian

poucos. (various references)

Quechua

q'ayaminchha (one of thenext few days). (various references)

Romanian

puţini, puţine, nu mulţi, minoritate (minority). (various references)

Russian 

несколько некоторый мало, немногочисленный (not numerous), немного (a bit, a little, a small of, awhile, one or two, quite a bit, slightly), немногие, малое число (paucity). (various references)

Scottish

tearc (rare, scarce, unusual). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian

nekoliko (few: a few, fewest, good few, several, some), nekolicina (fewness, good few, number: a number of), malo (kind of, little, little: a little, slightly, small, some, somewhat). (various references)

Sotho

metsotswana (few minutes). (various references)

Spanish

pocos. (various references)

Swedish

få (a few, acquire, be able to, be allowed to, be given, bring, bring about, can, catch, could, derive, earn, gain, get, get to, getting, have, have got to, have to, keep, lead, litter, make, may, might, obtain, receive, score, send, take, will, win). (various references)

Tagalog

kaunti, ilán (a few, any, some). (various references)

Thai

น้อย (low), จำนวนไม่มาก, จำนวนน้อย. (various references)

Turkish

kıt (close, constricted, droughty, exiguous, lean, limited, meager, meagre, penurious, scant, scanty, scarce, scrimpy, short, skimp, skimpy, stingy), azıcık (a little, bare, dollop, fractional, lick, little, only just, slight, slim, spot of, sprinkle of, sprinkling of, thimbleful), az miktar (dribblet, driblet, drop, fewness, inch, little, Mickle, modicum, shade, smallness, suggestion, suspicion, tinge, trifle, twopence), az (a bit, contracted, hypo-, inconsiderable, insufficient, little, meager, meagre, poco, poor, scrimp, scrimpy, seldom, shoestring, short, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, small, spare, stingy, under). (various references)

Turkmen 

az (little). (various references)

Ukrainian

рідкісний (infrequent, occasional, offbeat, out of the way, rare, scarce), незначна кількість (lick, trace), небагато (a few, little, only a few, some few, somewhat), мало (near, scantily). (various references)

Vietnamese 

một ít (spice). (various references)

Welsh

ychydig (little, rather, some, somewhat), nemor. (various references)

Zulu

isikhashana (a few minutes, a moment). (various references)

oligos. (various references)

pauca, paucae, paucas, pauci, pauciores, paucioribus, paucis, paucissimo, paucissimos, paucorum, paucos, pauculas, rarius, rarum. (various references)

feawe, hwon, lyt. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Derivations

Words beginning with "few": fewer, fewest, fewness, fewnesses, fewtrils. (additional references)

Words ending with "few": curfew, feverfew. (additional references)

Words containing "few": curfews, feverfews, lifeway, lifeways, lifework, lifeworks. (additional references)

Misspellings

"Few" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: afew, ecw, ef, efa, Efh, efi, Efk, efo, efp, efs, efx, ewq, eww, ewx, faaw, faw, fawb, fawg, fawk, fe, fea, fec, fef, feg, Feh, fei, fej, fek, fep, feq, fes, fesw, fev, fewd, fewe, fewk, fewl, fewn, fewo, fews, fewt, fewy, fex, Fhe, fiaw, fidw, fiew, Fiow, fiw, fouw, fow, fowe, fowk, fowy, fpe, frw, fue, Fwa, Fwe, fwes, fwo, fyw, Iew, pfew, Ufw, vew, zew. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

-1 letter: ef, we.

+1 letter: flew, weft, wife.

+2 letters: fewer, flews, wafer, wefts, wifed, wifes.

+3 letters: curfew, fawned, fawner, fellow, fewest, flawed, flowed, flower, fowled, fowler, reflew, reflow, twofer, waeful, wafers, wafery, waffed, waffie, waffle, wafted, wafter, waifed, webfed, wifely, woeful, wolfed, wolfer, woofed, woofer.

+4 letters: alewife, bedwarf, curfews, dewfall, dwarfed, dwarfer, fanwise, fawners, fawnier, fellows, felwort, fewness, fitchew, flawier, flowage, flowers, flowery, flyblew, forepaw, foresaw, forwent, fowlers, freeway, fretsaw, frowned, frowner, huswife, jewfish, lifeway, lowlife, midwife, oldwife, outflew, peafowl, reflown, reflows, seafowl, swifter, twelfth, twofers, wafered, waffies, waffled, waffler, waffles, waftage, wafters, wafture, wakeful, wamefou, wameful, warfare, waveoff, webfeet, webfoot, welfare, werwolf, wharfed, whereof, whiffed, whiffer, whiffet, whiffle, whoofed, wifedom, wiftier, wolfers, woofers.