Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,525,513,865 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

rarely

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
rare·ly  (rârl)
adv.
1. Not often; infrequently: "The truth is rarely pure and never simple" (Oscar Wilde).
2. In an unusual degree; exceptionally.
3. With uncommon excellence.
Usage Note: Strictly speaking, the use of ever after rarely and seldom is redundant; She rarely ever watches television adds nothing to She rarely watches television. In an earlier survey a large majority of the Usage Panel found this construction unacceptable in formal writing. But ever has been used as an intensive with rarely for several hundred years, and the construction is common in informal contexts. By contrast, the constructions rarely (or seldom) if ever and rarely (or seldom) or never are perfectly acceptable: She rarely if ever watches television. She rarely or never watches television. See Usage Notes at hardly, redundancy.

rarely
Adverb
1. hardly ever
2. to an unusual degree; exceptionally
USAGE: Since rarely means hardly ever, one should not say something rarely ever happens.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv.1.rarely - not often; "we rarely met"
frequently, oft, often, oftentimes, ofttimes - many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"

rarely
adverb seldom, hardly, almost never, hardly ever, little, once in a while, infrequently, on rare occasions, once in a blue moon, only now and then, scarcely ever << OPPOSITE often
USAGE Since the meaning of rarely is `hardly ever', the combination rarely ever is repetitive and should be avoided in careful writing, even though you may sometimes hear this phrase used in informal speech.
Translations
rarely [ˈrɛəlɪ] advrara vez, pocas veces
rarely [ˈrɛəlɪ] rare advrarement
rarely [ˈrɛəlɪ] rare advselten
rarely [ˈrɛəlɪ] advraramente


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Quintillian's (11) judgment on Hesiod that `he rarely rises to great heights.
When Claude and Quasimodo went out together, which frequently happened, and when they were seen traversing in company, the valet behind the master, the cold, narrow, and gloomy streets of the block of Notre-Dame, more than one evil word, more than one ironical quaver, more than one insulting jest greeted them on their way, unless Claude Frollo, which was rarely the case, walked with head upright and raised, showing his severe and almost august brow to the dumbfounded jeerers.
Whatever might have been the weaknesses of the original colonists, their virtues have rarely been disputed.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.