Syn. — Scarce; infrequent; unusual; uncommon; singular; extraordinary; incomparable. — Rare, Scarce.
We call a thing rare when but few examples, specimens, or instances of it are ever to be met with; as, a
rare plant. We speak of a thing as scarce, which, though usually abundant, is for the time being to be
had only in diminished quantities; as, a bad harvest makes corn scarce.
A perfect union of wit and judgment is one of the rarest things in the world.
Burke.
When any particular piece of money grew very scarce, it was often recoined by a succeeding emperor.
Addison. Rarebit
(Rare"bit) n. A dainty morsel; a Welsh rabbit. See Welsh rabbit, under Rabbit.
Raree-show
(Rar"ee-show`) n. [Contr. fr. rarity-show.] A show carried about in a box; a peep show.
Pope.
Rarefaction
(Rar`e*fac"tion) n. [Cf. F. raréfaction. See Rarefy.] The act or process of rarefying; the
state of being rarefied; — opposed to condensation; as, the rarefaction of air.
Rarefiable
(Rar"e*fi`a*ble) a. [Cf. F. raréfiable.] Capable of being rarefied. Boyle.
Rarefy
(Rar"e*fy) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rarefied (- fid); p. pr. & vb. n. Rarefying (- fi`ing).] [F. raréfier; L.
rarus rare + -ficare (in comp.) to make; cf. L. rarefacere. See -fy.] To make rare, thin, porous, or less
dense; to expand or enlarge without adding any new portion of matter to; — opposed to condense.
Rarefy
(Rar"e*fy), v. i. To become less dense; to become thin and porous. "Earth rarefies to dew."
Dryden.
Rarely
(Rare"ly) adv.
1. In a rare manner or degree; seldom; not often; as, things rarely seen.
2. Finely; excellently; with rare skill. See 3d Rare, 2.
The person who played so rarely on the flageolet.
Sir W. Scott.
The rest of the apartments are rarely gilded.
Evelyn. Rareness
(Rare"ness), n. The state or quality of being rare.
And let the rareness the small gift commend.
Dryden. Rareripe
(Rare"ripe`) a. [Rare early + ripe. Cf. Rathripe.] Early ripe; ripe before others, or before the
usual season.
Rareripe
(Rare"ripe`), n. An early ripening fruit, especially a kind of freestone peach.
Rarification
(Rar`i*fi*ca"tion) n. See Rarefaction. [R.] Am. Chem. Journal.
Rarity
(Rar"i*ty) n.; pl. Rarities (- tiz). [L. raritas: cf. F. rareté. See Rare.]
1. The quality or state of being rare; rareness; thinness; as, the rarity (contrasted with the density) of
gases.
2. That which is rare; an uncommon thing; a thing valued for its scarcity.
I saw three rarities of different kinds, which pleased me more than any other shows in the place.
Addison.
