different between rarely vs rarity

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

English

Etymology

rare +? -ity, borrowed from Middle French rarité, from Latin r?rit?s; compare French rareté. See also rare.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????.??.t?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /????.?.ti/

Noun

rarity (plural rarities)

1. A measure of the scarcity of an object.
2. (chemistry, of a gas) Thinness; the property of having low density
4. A rare object.

Synonyms

• (measure of the scarcity): rareness; see also Thesaurus:rareness
• (having low density): subtlety
• (rare object): hen's tooth; see also Thesaurus:rarity

Related terms

• rare
• rarely

Translations

References

• rarity at OneLook Dictionary Search