rara avis


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Wikipedia.

ra·ra a·vis

 (râr′ə ā′vĭs)
n. pl. ra·ra a·vis·es or ra·rae a·ves (râr′ē ā′vēz)
A rare or unique person or thing.
[Latin rāra avis : rāra, feminine of rārus, rare + avis, bird.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

rara avis

(ˈrɛərə ˈeɪvɪs)
n, pl rarae aves (ˈrɛəriː ˈeɪviːz)
an unusual, uncommon, or exceptional person or thing
[Latin: rare bird]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ra•ra a•vis

(ˈrɛər ə ˈeɪ vɪs)

n., pl. ra•rae a•ves (ˈrɛər i ˈeɪ viz)
a rare person or thing; rarity.
[1600–10; < Latin: rare bird]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

rara avis

A Latin phrase meaning rare bird, used to mean an unusual thing or person.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.rara avis - a rare or unique person
rare bird
unusual person, anomaly - a person who is unusual
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

rara avis

noun oddity, one-off (informal), curiosity, anomaly, rarity, rare thing I persuaded this rara avis to tell his story.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
Whether people grow fat by joking, or whether there is something in fat itself which predisposes to a joke, I have never been quite able to determine; but certain it is that a lean joker is a rara avis in terris.
View in context
Billed as "Rara Avis," the exhibit opened on Saturday, June 8, with Virginia R.
Tikoy Aguiluz's art of waves, whorls and wings
Sunico is one rara avis with prodigious memory who plays without notes.
Can David fix Goliath's mess?
Tena Durrani's 'Rara Avis' (Rare Bird) was inspired by the rarity factor and interwoven with the confident and daring modern woman, the collection produced full-on bridal bonanza in traditional silhouettes of reds, maroons and oranges with a smattering of deep hues.
Having fun with bridals at FPW
Notably, this is how this rara avis completes his thought on the agonizing beauty of the Whole: 'Man is himself, at the very least, is music, a brave theme that makes music also of its vast accompaniment, its matrix of storms and stars.
The beauty of the Whole
The fixed sight gradually became standard, bringing us to the present, where an adjustable-sighted police duty pistol is a rara avis, indeed.
Autos
As for being that rara avis, a woman director, things have also "improved a lot," notes Reichardt who also moonlights teaching film (she's been at Bard College for the past decade).
She's on the side of the outsiders: Variety honoree Kelly Reichardt assesses a rich, unorthodox and celebrated career
At the same time however, he does not lose contact with notions and theories with significant historical value, which is actually a rara avis in contemporary scientific works.
Personality disorders by Mircea Revenco
The last round witnessed a special edition collection by label Rara Avis titled ' The Glam Luxe'.
Make in India: Supermodels readied for world

Dictionary browser ?
Full browser ?