rara avis
noun
a rare person or thing; rarity.
rarae aves
-
pluralof rara avis.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Texas guide demonstrates once again why the Peterson volumes are rarae aves in the book trade.
From Time Magazine Archive
A great ash-coloured butcher-bird was shot last winter in Tisted- park, and a red-backed butcher-bird at Selborne: they are rarae aves in this country.
From The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White
Of all the rarae aves sought by book-collectors this little volume is perhaps the most widely known.
From The Book-Hunter at Home by P. B. M. Allan
No, no; such fellows are rarae aves in terris, nigrisque simillimæ cygnis—rare birds on the earth, and as scarce as black swans.
From At the Sign of the Barber's Pole Studies In Hirsute History by William Andrews
"Aves with them are rarae aves," replied Mercurius, wagging his tail right waggishly; "and, what is more, I will lay thee any wager that not one of these will say a prayer to save thee."
From The Paris Sketch Book by William Makepeace Thackeray
