[syn: curio, curiosity, oddity, oddment, peculiarity, rarity]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rarity \Rar"i*ty\ (r[a^]r"[i^]*t[y^]; 277), n.; pl. Rarities
(r[a^]r"[i^]*t[i^]z). [L. raritas: cf. F. raret['e]. See
Rare.]
1. The quality or state of being rare; rareness; thinness;
as, the rarity (contrasted with the density) of gases.
[1913 Webster]
2. That which is rare; an uncommon thing; a thing valued for
its scarcity.
[1913 Webster]
I saw three rarities of different kinds, which
pleased me more than any other shows in the place.
--Addison.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
rarity
n 1: noteworthy scarcity [syn: rarity, rareness,
infrequency]
2: a rarified quality; "the tenuity of the upper atmosphere"
[syn: rarity, tenuity, low density]
3: something unusual -- perhaps worthy of collecting [syn:
curio, curiosity, oddity, oddment, peculiarity,
rarity]