Rares

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Uncommon or unusually scarce items ; treasures or collectibles that are valued for their infrequency ; distinctive things not readily encountered in ordinary situations
  2. Objects, artifacts, or qualities that are distinguished by their limited existence ; prized possessions or traits recognized for their rarity ; things that are seldom found or acquired
  3. Entities that stand out due to being hard to obtain or see ; possessions admired because they are infrequently available ; elements that exist in limited numbers or occurrences

Etymology: The noun form referring to "rares" is quite uncommon and does not have a well-documented independent history in English, as it typically arises as a plural of the adjective "rare" used substantively. The adjective "rare" itself entered English in the late Middle Ages, derived from Old French "raire," which in turn came from Latin "rarus," meaning "thinly sown," "scattered," or "unusual." This Latin root captures the sense of something infrequent or uncommon, which is the core meaning that persists today. When "rare" is used as a noun, it usually denotes rare things collectively—objects, events, or qualities that are uncommon or exceptional in some way. This nominal use likely developed by analogy with other adjectives turned into nouns, a common pattern in English, where the plural form "rares" suggests a group or category of uncommon items without specifying what they are. Because this usage is more of a descriptive plural than a standard lexical noun, it rarely appears in formal or historical texts as a standalone entry. The transition from the adjective to a plural noun form is straightforward, following English pluralization rules by adding -s. However, this plural form remains relatively specialized or informal, often understood contextually rather than as a fixed dictionary word with its own etymology. The root "rare" itself, with its Classical and Romance language pedigree, provided the semantic foundation that allows this kind of flexible use.

Synonyms: rarest items, rare things, uncommon items, scarce items, unique items

Antonyms: common items, frequent items, ordinary items, usual items, typical items