rare

Where does the word "rare" come from? It comes from Latin rarus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Rare’s story begins in Latin: rarus meant “thin, scattered.” Used of loosely woven cloth. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as rare. Latin 'rarus' meant thinly sown or loosely woven, the opposite of 'densus'; English first used it of thin, airy things. It reached English by 1300s as rare. 'rare' steak is a separate word from Old English 'hrere', lightly cooked. Today, rare means not occurring often.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient rarus "thin, scattered", used of loosely woven cloth.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval rare "sparse", Latin 'rarus' meant thinly sown or loosely woven, the opposite of 'densus'; English first used it of thin, airy things.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s rare "thin; uncommon", 'rare' steak is a separate word from Old English 'hrere', lightly cooked.