Rarae aves

ra·ra a·vis

[rair-uh ey-vis; Latin rah-rah ah-wis]
noun, plural ra·rae a·ves [rair-ee ey-veez; Latin rah-rahy ah-wes] .
a rare person or thing; rarity.

Origin:
1600–10; < Latin rāra avis rare bird

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World English Dictionary
rara avis (ˈrɛərə ˈeɪvɪs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl rarae aves
an unusual, uncommon, or exceptional person or thing
 
[Latin: rare bird]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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00:10
Rarae aves is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rara avis
1607, "peculiar person," from L. (Juvenal, Persius), lit. "strange bird," from rara, fem. of rarus "rare" + avis "bird." Latin pl. is raræ aves.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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