Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SEL'DOM, adv. [Sax. selden, seldon; D. zelden; G. selten; Dan. selsom, seldsom; Sw. sällan, sällsom. In Danish, selskab, (sel and shape,) is a company, fellowship, probably signifies separate, distinct, coinciding with L. solus.]

Rarely; not often; not frequently. Wisdom and youth era seldom joined in one. – Hooker.