RARELY

rarely, seldom

(adverb) not often; “we rarely met”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adverb

rarely (comparative rarelier or more rarely, superlative rareliest or most rarely)

Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often. [from 16th c.]

Unusually well; excellently. [from 16th c.]

To a rare degree; very. [from 16th c.]

Usage notes

It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never.

• Compare We rarely ever go to the theatre. with We almost never go to the theatre.

Synonyms

• barely

• hardly

• infrequently

• once in a while

• seldom

• sporadically

• scarcely

Antonyms

• frequently, usually, often

Anagrams

• rearly

Source: Wiktionary

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 spartments are rarely gilded. Evelyn.

RARE

Rare, a. Etym: [Cf. Rather, Rath.]

Definition: Early. [Obs.] Rude mechanicals that rare and late Work in the market place. Chapman.

Rare, a. [Compar. Rarer; superl. Rarest.] Etym: [Cf. AS. hrer, or E. rare early.]

Definition: 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.

Rare, a. [Compar. Rarer; superl. Rarest.] Etym: [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.

– 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition