Why is under-cooked steak “rare”?
Here's what etymonline has to say about it. It comes from the Old English word "hrere" which meant lightly cooked. > "undercooked," 1650s, variant of Middle English rere, from Old English hrere "lightly cooked," probably related to hreran "to stir, move, shake, agitate," from Proto-Germanic *h…
The Short Answer
Here's what etymonline has to say about it. It comes from the Old English word "hrere" which meant lightly cooked. > "undercooked," 1650s, variant of Middle English rere, from Old English hrere "lightly cooked," probably related to hreran "to stir, move, shake, agitate," from Proto-Germanic *hrorjan (source also of Old Frisian hrera "to stir, move," Old Saxon hrorian, Dutch roeren, German rühren, Old Norse hroera), from PIE root *kere- "to mix, confuse; cook" (source also of Greek kera- "to mix," krasis "mixture"). Originally of eggs, not recorded in reference to meat until 1784, and according to OED, in this sense "formerly often regarded as an Americanism, although it was current in many English dialects …." EDIT: since this reply gained some traction, I'll pimp etymonline a bit. It is a great site for understanding why a particular word has its specific meaning. Here's the link to rare: _URL_0_
Analysis
Key Concepts: English, here's, etymonline
This explanation focuses on english, here's, etymonline and spans 147 words across 6 sentences. At 126% above the average Everyday Life explanation (65 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Here's what etymonline has to say about it.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 6 connected points.
How This Compares in Everyday Life
Ranked #25 of 500 Everyday Life questions by answer depth (top 6%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why under-cooked steak "rare"?
Here's what etymonline has to say about it. It comes from the Old English word "hrere" which meant lightly cooked. > "undercooked," 1650s, variant of Middle English rere, from Old English hrere "lightly cooked," probably related to hreran "to…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Everyday Life questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 147 words, ranked #25 of 500 Everyday Life questions by depth. The key concepts covered are english, here's, etymonline.
What approach does this answer take to explain under-cooked steak "rare"?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 147 words. It is categorized under Everyday Life and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.