rar·e·fy also rar·i·fy (rârə-fī′)
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Tweet v. rar·e·fied, rar·e·fy·ing, rar·e·fies also rar·i·fied or rar·i·fy·ing or rar·i·fies v.tr. 1. To make thin or less dense, as air. 2. To purify or refine: "The [medieval] Italians ... rarefy the image of the lady, treating her as a quasi-celestial figure" (Marcia L. Colish). v.intr. To become thin or less dense. [Middle English rarefien, from Old French rarefier, from Medieval Latin rārificāre, alteration of Latin rārēfacere : rārus, rare + facere, to make; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] rar′e·fia·ble adj. |
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