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rarefied

 - 6 dictionary results

rar⋅e⋅fied

  [rair-uh-fahyd]
Use rarefied in a Sentence
–adjective
1. extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted: the rarefied atmosphere of a scholarly symposium.
2. of, belonging to, or appealing to an exclusive group; select; esoteric: rarefied tastes.
Origin:
1625–35; rarefy + -ed 2

rar⋅e⋅fy

  [rair-uh-fahy] verb, -fied, -fy⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to make rare or rarer; make less dense: to rarefy a gas.
2. to make more refined, spiritual, or exalted.
–verb (used without object)
3. to become rare or less dense; become thinned: Moisture rarefies when heated.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME rarefien < MF rarefier < L rārēfacere, equiv. to rārē-, comb. form of rārus rare 1 (for expected rāri-; orig. of -ē- unclear) + facere to make; see -fy

Related forms:
rar⋅e⋅fi⋅a⋅ble, adjective
rar⋅e⋅fi⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rarefied
rar·e·fied also rar·i·fied   (râr'ə-fīd')   
adj.  

  1. Belonging to or reserved for a small select group; esoteric.

  2. Elevated in character or style; lofty.

rar·e·fy also rar·i·fy   (râr'ə-fī')   
v.   rar·e·fied also rar·i·fied, rar·e·fy·ing also rar·i·fy·ing, rar·e·fies also rar·i·fies

v.   tr.

  1. To make thin, less compact, or less dense.

  2. To purify or refine.

v.   intr.
To become thin or less compact or dense.

[Middle English rarefien, from Old French rarefier, from Medieval Latin rārificāre, alteration of Latin rārēfacere : rārus, rare + facere, to make; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]
rar'e·fi'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

rarefy 
1398, from O.Fr. rarefier (14c.), from M.L. rarificare, from L. rarefacere "make rare," from rarus "rare, thin" (see rare (1)) + facere "to make" (see factitious).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: rar·e·fy
Variant: also rar·i·fy /'rar-&-"fI, 'rer-/
Function: verb
Inflected Forms:-e·fied also -i·fied; -e·fy·ing also -i·fy·ing
transitive senses
: to make rare, thin,porous, or less dense : to expand without the addition of matter rarefy intransitive senses
: to become less dense
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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