Those rare and solitary, these 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.
Rare"bit (râr"bt), n. A dainty morsel; a Welsh rabbit. See Welsh
rabbit, under Rabbit.
Rar"ee-show` (râr"-sh`), n. [Contr. fr. rarity-show.] A show carried
about in a box; a peep show. Pope.
Rar`e*fac"tion (rr`*fk"shn), 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.
Rar"e*fi`a*ble (rr"*f`*b'l), a. [Cf. F. raréfiable.] Capable of being
rarefied. Boyle.
Rar"e*fy (rr"*f; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rarefied (- fd); p. pr. &
vb. n. Rarefying (- f`ng).] [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.
Rar"e*fy, v. i. To become less dense; to become thin and porous. "Earth
rarefies to dew." Dryden.
Rare"ly (râr"l), adv. 1. In a rare manner or degree; seldom; not often;
as, things rarely seen.