Definition of the word few

The word "few" has a rich history that dates back to Old English. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "fuwiz" and the Proto-Indo-European root "*pe," which meant "small" or "little." In Old English, the word "few" meant "small in number" and was often used to describe a small group of people or things. Over time, the spelling and meaning of "few" evolved. In Middle English (circa 1100-1500 AD), the word retained its primary sense of "small in number," but it also developed a connotation of incompleteness or scarcity. This sense of scarcity is still present in modern English, where "few" is often used to describe a small number of things that are unusually valuable, rare, or difficult to obtain. Despite its evolution, the word "few" has retained its core meaning and remains a fundamental part of the English language.