Rāre1, a.
(4), a. [compar. RARER; superl. RAREST.] [Fr. rare, Pr. rar, Sp., Pg., & It. raro, from Lat. rarus, thin, rare, whence also Ger., Dan., & Sw. rar, D. raar.]
Sense 1. Of wide separation of parts; of loose texture; not thick or dense; thin; as, a rare atmosphere at high elevations.
Water is nineteen times lighter, and, by consequence, nineteen times rarer, than gold. Newton.
Sense 2. Thinly scattered; dispersed. “Those rare and solitary, these in flocks.” Milton.
Sense 3. Not frequent; seldom met with; unusual; as, a rare event.
Sense 4. Unusually excellent; valuable to a degree seldom found. “Rare work, all filled with terror and delight.” Cowley.
Above the rest I judge one beauty rare. Dryden.
Sense 5. Early. [Obs. and rare.]
Rude mechanicals that, rare and late, Work in the market-place. Chapman.
Synonyms— Scarce; infrequent; unusual; uncommon; singular; extraordinary; incomparable. — RARE, SCARCE. We call a thing rare when but few of the kind are ever to be met with; as, a rare plant, &c. We speak of a thing as scarce, which, though usually abundant, is for the time being to be had only in diminished quantities. 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 received by a succeeding emperor.” Addison.