different between rarefy vs rarely

English

Alternative forms

• rarify

Etymology

From Middle English rarefien, from Old French rarefier (French raréfier), from Latin rarefacere (“make rare”). Surface etymology is rare +? -fy.

Verb

rarefy (third-person singular simple present rarefies, present participle rarefying, simple past and past participle rarefied)

1. To make rare, thin, porous, or less dense
2. To expand or enlarge without adding any new portion of matter to.

Synonyms

• stretch

Antonyms

• condense

Translations

Anagrams

• Frayer, Frayre, fayrer

English

Etymology

From rare +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?????l?/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /????li/

Adverb

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

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

   We rarely go to the theatre.

   Rarely do you ever find an eagle this far up the river.

2. Unusually well; excellently. [from 16th c.]
3. 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

Translations

References

• rarely in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• rarely in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• rearly