Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Rarenes, Rairnes, n. [e.m.E. rarenes (1551).] a. Sparseness or scantiness of numbers. b. The fact of being uncommon or exceptional. —a. 1568 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 133.
Because of the rarenes of this Assemblie 1604 Elgin Rec. II 123.
The elderis fand greit falt with rarenes of the people at the sermone 1600-1610 Melvill 571.
Haiffing weyeit the weightiness off the effairis … and rarenes of thair awin number —b. 1585 James VI Ess. 39.
Thy glore by rairnes greater shall remaine 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 241.
Being moved with the rairnes and uncouthnes of the fact