释义 |
rare I. \ˈra(a)](ə)r, ˈre], ]ə\ adjective (rarer ; rarest) Etymology: alteration (influenced by rare) (II) of earlier rere, from Middle English, from Old English hrēre boiled lightly; akin to Old English & Old Saxon hrōr busy, active, strong, Old English hrēran to stir — more at crater : cooked to a slight degree < rare roast beef > II. adjective (rarer ; rarest) Etymology: Middle English, from Latin rarus; perhaps akin to Latin rete net — more at retina 1. : characterized by wide separation of component particles : thin < the rare air of the mountain top > — compare dense 2. a. : marked by unusual quality, merit, appeal, or capacity to please : distinctive, excellent < what is so rare as a day in June — J.R.Lowell > b. : superlative or extreme in its kind : fine, great, real < he'll make a rare fuss — Eden Phillpots > 3. : seldom occurring or appearing : widely separated in space or time : few and far between : unusual, uncommon, infrequent < rare patches of green in the desert — Emma Hawkridge > < in back country where automobiles from other parts are rare — Cornelius Weygandt > specifically : belonging to a small group or class < argon is a rare gas > 4. : valued for its scarcity or exceptional character < a rare book > Synonyms: see choice, thin III. adjective & adverb Etymology: probably alteration of rathe chiefly dialect : early IV. chiefly dialect variant of rear V. chiefly dialect variant of roar |