The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dearth \Dearth\, n. [OE. derthe, fr. dere. See Dear.]
   Scarcity which renders dear; want; lack; specifically, lack
   of food on account of failure of crops; famine.
   [1913 Webster]

         There came a dearth over all the land of Egypt. --Acts
                                                  vii. 11.
   [1913 Webster]

         He with her press'd, she faint with dearth. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         Dearth of plot, and narrowness of imagination.
                                                  --Dryden.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

dearth
    n 1: an acute insufficiency [syn: dearth, famine,
         shortage]
    2: an insufficient quantity or number [syn: dearth, paucity]