Selden

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that occurs infrequently or on uncommon occasions
2. Happening only at distant intervals or with sparse regularity
3. Appearing or taking place with notable rarity or infrequency

Etymology: Selden is an English word meaning "seldom" in older and poetic usage, and its origin is simple: it comes from Old English "seldan," an adverb meaning "rarely" or "infrequently." The word has been in the language since at least the Old English period, so it is one of the oldest elements of English vocabulary rather than a later borrowing. The surprising twist is that "seldom" and "selden" are essentially the same word in different forms. The "-om" ending in "seldom" was added later, probably through the influence of words like "whilom" (formerly), so the modern spelling carries an extra piece that the older form lacks. Selden survived as a variant form while seldom became the standard one. Selden is also a surname, derived from a place name or a descriptive usage, but its use as a surname is separate from the adverb's history and not a second root for the word.