few
UK: fjuː | US: fjuː
adj. a small number of; not many
pron. a small number of people or things
det. used to emphasize how small a number is
The word "few" traces back to Old English "fēawe," meaning "small in number." It shares roots with Old High German "fao" and Old Norse "fár," all conveying scarcity. Unlike many English words, "few" has retained its compact form without clear separable morphemes, making it a residue of ancient Germanic language structure. Its meaning has remained consistent, emphasizing paucity or limited quantity.
Few people attended the meeting due to the storm.
She has few friends but deeply values them.
Only a few apples were left on the tree.
He offered few explanations for his actions.
Few could solve the puzzle in under a minute.