珍しい

Etymology
From classical -na adjective + adjectivizing suffix.

Ultimately from verb, modern 🇨🇬.

The meaning originally referred to something that was admirable or favorable, something that had value, as an extension of the underlying verb. This meaning is used in the , dating to the mid-700s. This further extended to indicate something that was rare or unusual in ways that one would find notable or attractive, and this meaning was also already used in the . Over time, the sense weakened, and the  sense became dominant.

Cognate with 🇨🇬.

Adjective

 * 1) rare, unusual