different between warely vs rarely

English

Etymology

From Middle English wareli, wearliche, from Old English wærlice, corresponding to ware +? -ly.

Adverb

warely (comparative more warely, superlative most warely)

1. (obsolete) Watchfully; with caution.
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Mark XIV:

     He that betrayed hym, gave them a generall token, sayinge: whosoever I do kisse, he it is, take hym, and leade hym awaye warely.

   • 1590, Edmund Spendser, The Faerie Queene, I.x:

     Arriued there, the dore they find fast lockt; / For it was warely watched night and day […]

Anagrams

• Lawyer, Rawley, lawyer, yawler

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