rarely

UK: ˈreəli | US: ˈrerli

Definition

  1. adv. not often; seldom

  2. adv. in an unusual or remarkable manner (archaic)

Structure
rare <infrequent>ly <adverb suffix>
Etymology

rarely = rare<infrequent> + ly<adverb suffix>

  • rare (from Latin rarus, meaning "thin, sparse, infrequent")
  • ly (Old English -līce, forming adverbs from adjectives)

Etymology Origin:
The word "rarely" combines "rare," originally describing physical thinness or scarcity (e.g., "rare air"), with the adverbial suffix "-ly." Over time, "rare" shifted from denoting literal sparseness to figurative infrequency, and "-ly" standardized its grammatical role as an adverb. The archaic sense ("remarkably") reflects an older usage where "rare" implied exceptional quality.

Examples

  1. She rarely eats fast food.

  2. He visits his hometown rarely now.

  3. Such opportunities come rarely in life.

  4. The artifact is rarely seen in public exhibitions.

  5. They rarely argue, but when they do, it’s intense.