browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
rarer |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Rare \Rare\, a. [Compar. {Rarer}; superl. {Rarest}.] [Cf. AS hr[=e]r, or E. rare early.] Nearly raw; partially cooked; not thoroughly cooked; underdone; as rare beef or mutton. New-laid eggs, which Baucis' busy care Turned by a gentle fire, and roasted rare --Dryden. Note: This word is in common use in the United States, but in England its synonym underdone is preferred. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Rare \Rare\, a. [Compar. {Rarer}; superl. {Rarest}.] [F., fr L. rarus thin, rare.] 1. Not frequent; seldom met with or occurring; unusual; as a rare event. 2. Of an uncommon nature; 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. 3. Thinly scattered; dispersed. Those rare and solitary, three in flocks. --Milton. 4. Characterized by 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. --Sir I. Newton. Syn: Scarce; infrequent; unusual; uncommon; singular; extraordinary; incomparable. Usage: {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.
more about rarer
This work is licensed under a
