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Rather
Definitions
- 1 Prior; earlier; former. not-comparable, obsolete
"Now no man dwelleth at the rather town of Damietta."
- 1 Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than) not-comparable
"I'd rather not have spent all the money, but it really was an emergency."
- 2 Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary. conjunctive, not-comparable
"It wasn't supposed to be popular; rather, it was supposed to get the job done."
- 3 Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.) conjunctive, not-comparable
"What the pupil already knew was indeed rather taken for granted than expressed, but it performed the useful function of transcending all textbooks, and supplanting all studies."
- 4 Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree. not-comparable
"It's been rather/quite a good meal overall, but this melon is rather too tasteless."
- 5 More quickly. not-comparable, obsolete
"Pompey, being elated and filled with confidence by this victory, made all haste to engage Sertorius himself, and the rather lest Metellus should come in for a share in the honour of the victory."
- 1 to some (great or small) extent wordnet
- 2 to a degree (not used with a negative) wordnet
- 3 on the contrary wordnet
- 4 more readily or willingly wordnet
- 1 An enthusiastic affirmation. England, dated
"Would you like some? –Rather!"
- 1 A surname.
- 1 A choice or a preference. dated, informal, uncommon
"If I had my rathers I'd make up my own band. Art Blakey on the skins, Charlie Mingus on the bass, John Coltrane on the sax, Harry Edison on the horn-"
- 1 To prefer; to prefer to. dialectal, nonstandard
"You'd rather us be dead."
Etymology
From Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, comparative of hraþe (“soon, early, fast”). More at rathe. Cognate with Dutch radder (“faster”), comparative of Dutch rad (“fast; quick”), German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), German gerade (“even; straight; direct”). By surface analysis, rathe + -er.
From Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, comparative of hraþe (“soon, early, fast”). More at rathe. Cognate with Dutch radder (“faster”), comparative of Dutch rad (“fast; quick”), German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), German gerade (“even; straight; direct”). By surface analysis, rathe + -er.
From Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, comparative of hraþe (“soon, early, fast”). More at rathe. Cognate with Dutch radder (“faster”), comparative of Dutch rad (“fast; quick”), German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), German gerade (“even; straight; direct”). By surface analysis, rathe + -er.
From Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, comparative of hraþe (“soon, early, fast”). More at rathe. Cognate with Dutch radder (“faster”), comparative of Dutch rad (“fast; quick”), German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), German gerade (“even; straight; direct”). By surface analysis, rathe + -er.
From Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, comparative of hraþe (“soon, early, fast”). More at rathe. Cognate with Dutch radder (“faster”), comparative of Dutch rad (“fast; quick”), German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), German gerade (“even; straight; direct”). By surface analysis, rathe + -er.
See also for "rather"
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