- rarefy, rarefaction
- not rari-y are the preferred spellings.
Dictionary of troublesome word. Bill Bryson. 2013.
rarefy, rarefaction
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rarefy, rarefaction — not rari y are the preferred spellings … Dictionary of troublesome word
rarefaction — c.1600, noun of action from L. rarefacere (see RAREFY (Cf. rarefy)) … Etymology dictionary
Rarefaction — Rar e*fac tion (r[a^]r [ e]*f[a^]k sh[u^]n), n. [Cf. F. rar[ e]faction. See {Rarefy}.] The act or process of rarefying; the state of being rarefied; opposed to condensation; as, the rarefaction of air. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
rarefy — [rer′ə fī΄] vt., vi. rarefied, rarefying [ME rarefien < MFr rarefier < L rarefacere < rarus,RARE1 + facere, to make, DO1] 1. to make or become thin, or less dense [the rarefied mountain air] 2. to make or become more refin … English World dictionary
rarefy — , rarefaction, but rarity … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
rarefaction — noun Etymology: French or Medieval Latin; French raréfaction, from Medieval Latin rarefaction , rarefactio, from Latin rarefacere to rarefy Date: 1572 1. the action or process of rarefying 2. the quality or state of being rarefied 3. a state or… … New Collegiate Dictionary
rarefaction — rarefactional, adj. rarefactive /rair euh fak tiv/, adj. /rair euh fak sheuhn/, n. 1. the act or process of rarefying. 2. the state of being rarefied. [1595 1605; < ML rarefaction (s. of rarefactio), equiv. to L rarefact(us) (ptp. of rarefacere;… … Universalium
rarefy — v.t. make thin, rare or tenuous. ♦ rarefaction, n … Dictionary of difficult words
rarefaction — noun a decrease in the density of something a sound wave causes periodic rarefactions in its medium • Derivationally related forms: ↑rarefy • Hypernyms: ↑concentration … Useful english dictionary
rarefy — v. ( ies, ied) 1 tr. & intr. make or become less dense or solid (rarefied air). 2 tr. purify or refine (a person s nature etc.). 3 tr. make (an idea etc.) subtle. Derivatives: rarefaction n. rarefactive adj. rarefication n. Etymology: ME f. OF… … Useful english dictionary
