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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rare, Rair, adj. (and adv.). Also: raire, raer. [Late ME (c1420) and e.m.E. rare, F. rare (14th c.), L. rārus.]

1. Of a number (of people): Small. 1563 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 34.
Becaus the rare number of ministers suffereth not everie kirk to have a severall minister
a1651 Calderwood IV 37.
Some ministers conveened … to hold a Generall Assemblie … but … the number was rare

b. Few in number and far apart from each other. — 1585 James VI Ess. 42.
Although the same … Can noght returne, yet men are not so rair, Bot ye may get the lyke

2. Of a gathering: Sparsely or poorly attended. 1601 Elgin Rec. II 93.
The minister fand gryt fault of the rare conventione
1603 Ib. 108. 1624 Moray Synod 8.
The visitors … reports that thei find thair meitinges to be rair … wherfor thei are ordaned to keip their meitinges in somer anes everie oulk
a1634 Forbes Rec. 387.
The Assemblie haulden the second day … was so rare that they [were] not exceiding the number of nineteen commissioners
1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 2.
Thoghe that meiting of counsell was rare and chosen expresslie for the purpose
1658 S. Ronaldshay 25.
The weather most tempestuous. … Ane raire meeting of the people

3. Uncommon, seldom encountered. 1596 Dalr. I 24/21.
Ane foul, at vthir tymes thoch maist rair ȝit in this ane place maist frequent
1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 33/36.
Without anie greater terrour for these his [sc. the Devil's] rarest weapons, nor for the ordinarie whereof wee haue daily the proofe
1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 131.
The tusk, a rare … fish
Ib. 22.

b. Extraordinary; remarkable; odd, strange. 1600 Crim. Trials II 294.
The king heiring the gentilman speiking sick a rair purpose, admirit thairat
a1605 Birrel Diary 12.
Ane rair and vounederful accident
a1665 W. Guthrie Letters Horning 7.
But that the Lord pardons men that publickly denyes the cause … as these lowns who have broken the Covenant … ye will find it a rair purpose as ever ye shall read of in Scripture … or historie

4. Unusual in respect of some good quality; of uncommon excellence, admirable.(a) 1570 Sat. P. x 140.
Of quhais rair bewtie scho did sumpart farlie
a1585 Maitl. Q. 191/28.
With monye rair and princlie qualitie
Ib. 257/5.
That lustie ladie rair Olimpia
a1570-86 T. Hudson Maitl. F. 448/13.
A rair exampill sett for ws to sie
1591-2 Rob Stene 19.
That joyfull jem, that ruby rair, That jacinth
a1586 Kamington in Maitland Geneal. Setoun 46.
George the 2 his wisdom was most rair
1622-6 Bisset I 21/18.
Height the attempt, and the performance rair
1648 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 121.
Ane double hagbut … haveing ane rair snap work
(b) 1585 James VI Ess. 44.
Rare
1600-1610 Melvill 51.
A rare man, and a maist loving father to me
a1605 Montg. Sonn. xlix 2.
Thoght … royall rubies [be] countit rich and rare
1612 Soc. Ant. IV 91.
Till such tyme that a more rare token of my service fall in your handes
(c) 1625 Annandale Corr. 279.
Raer

b. To be rare in (some activity), to be exceptionally accomplished at, very good at. — ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court (1821) 34.
To sew, to spin, weave [etc.] … She must be rare in all these handy trades

5. As adv.: To an exceptional degree, very. c1590 Fowler I 65/196.
The passage owt and going furthe wes high and rair vnthik

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"Rare adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rare_adj>

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