I.rare, scarce, scanty, Hdt., Eur.; σπάνιον ἑαυτὸν παρέχειν, Lat. difficiles aditus habere, Plat.; ὕδατι σπανίῳ χρώμενοι having a scanty supply of water, Thuc.; c. inf., σπ. ἰδεῖν rare to behold, Xen.: of persons in an adv. sense, σπάνιος ἐπιφοιτᾷ he seldom visits, Hdt.:— σπάνιόν ἐστι, c. inf., it is seldom that . . , Xen.:— τὸ σπάνιον ῀ σπάνις, Aeschin.
II.comp. σπανιώτερος, Hdt., Thuc.: —Sup. -ώτατος, attic