Etymology Map
Back to all words

Rare

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means not occurring often

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

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

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.