rārus adj. with comp. and sup, of loose texture, thin, rare, not thick: (terra) opp. densa, V.: retia, with large meshes, V.: tunica, O.: rariores silvae, thinner, Ta.

—With large intervals, far apart, here and there, scattered, thin, scanty: vides habitari in terrā raris et angustis in locis, scattered: Apparent rari nantes, V.: frutices in vertice, O.: umbra, V.: arbores, N.: Manat rara meas lacrima per genas, drop by drop, H.

—Of soldiers, in open order, far apart, scattered, dispersed, straggling, single: ut numquam conferti, sed rari magnisque intervallis proeliarentur, Cs.: rari in confertos inlati, L.: ordines, L.: rarior acies, Cu.

—Infrequent, scarce, sparse, few, rare: in omni arte, optimum quidque rarissimum: raris ac prope nullis portibus, Cs.: Oceanus raris ab orbe nostro navibus aditur, Ta.: rara hostium apparebant arma, L.: vitio parentum Rara iuventus, H.: rarus adibat (i. e. raro), O.

—Plur n. as subst: rara (anteponantur) volgaribus.

—Uncommon, scarce, rare, extraordinary, remarkable: Rara quidem facie, sed rarior arte canendi, O.: avis (sc. pavo), H.: rarissima turba, O.