Rarefy
/ˈrɛərɪfaɪ/noun
To make something less dense, concentrated, or compact.
Did you know?In alchemical and early scientific writing, rarefaction described the expansion or thinning of matter, linking the word to attempts to transform physical substance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reH-
“A proposed root associated with looseness or thinness; the deeper origin of Latin rarus is uncertain.”
Classical Latin
Latin
rarus
“Sparse, thin, loose, or uncommon.”
Classical Latin
Latin
rarefacere
“To make thin or less dense; literally, to make rare.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
rarefacere
“To rarefy or reduce in density, especially in philosophical and scientific writing.”
14th Century
Old French
rarefier
“To make thin or less dense; borrowed from Latin rarefacere.”
Late 14th Century
English
rarefien
“To make rare, thin, or less dense.”
Modern English
English
rarefy
“To make less dense, concentrated, or compact.”