Word definition: rather

Etimology


From Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, comparative of hraþe (“soon, early, fast”), equivalent to rathe +‎ -er. 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”).

adverb


rather (not comparable)

Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than) [from 9th c.]

(conjunctive) Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary. [from 14th c.]

(conjunctive) Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.) [from 15th c.]

(degree) Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree. [from 16th c.]

(obsolete) More quickly. [9th–19th c.]

Examples


Synonym: liefer

I would rather stay in all day than go out with them.

I would like this one rather than the other one.

I would much rather be with you.

Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants.

I'd rather dance with you than talk with you / So why don't we just move into the other room

It wasn't supposed to be popular; rather, it was supposed to get the job done.

She didn't go along, but rather went home instead.

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.

His ‘Iliad’ is spirited and polished, and, though often rather a paraphrase than a translation, is always more truly poetic than most of the best translations.

All this was extraordinarily distasteful to Churchill. […] Never before had he felt such repulsion when the vicar displayed his characteristic bluntness or coarseness of speech. In the present connection—or rather as a transition from the subject that had started their conversation—such talk had been distressingly out of place.

I didn't want to leave. Or rather I did, just not alone.

Synonyms: somewhat, fairly, actually, unexpectedly

Antonym: utterly

This melon is rather tasteless, especially compared to the one we had last time.

We had some rather bad news today.

We’ll be seeing rather a lot of you over the next few days.

Synonyms: sooner, earlier

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.

verb


rather (third-person singular simple present rathers, present participle rathering, simple past and past participle rathered)

(nonstandard or dialectal) To prefer; to prefer to.

Examples


Until just before the pie was popped into the heat. A few of them suddenly realized who put that gorgeous hunk of crackers together, and gaped. We grinned back, but very cool. The ones who knew said nothing, rathering to die than let on they had been hustled by two negative dudes.

It was a plain brown dress, more or less the colour of my hair; and the walls of our kitchen being also brown, when I came downstairs again I could hardly be seen. I should have rathered a blue gown, or a violet one; […]

So you must excuse my saying anything I did: all it was, that up to the very last I had understood us all to be friendly — apart, that is, from his rathering me not there. How was I to know he would flash out so wicked?

"That was a killer," said Chris. "I'd rathered die in St. Bernard than spent one minute over there. I would have rathered the storm, shaking with the wind and rain hitting in the boat for an eternity than spending any time there.

adjective


rather (not comparable)

(obsolete) Prior; earlier; former.

Examples


Now no man dwelleth at the rather town of Damietta.

interjection


rather

(England, dated) An enthusiastic affirmation.

Examples


Would you like some? –Rather!

"Do you mean to say, young man," she said frostily, "that you expect me to drink this stuff?" ¶ "Rather! Bucks you up, you know."

"Farewell, Daughter of Eve," said he. "Perhaps I may keep the handkerchief?""Rather!" said Lucy, and then ran towards the far-off patch of daylight as quickly as her legs would carry her.

"Some of us stupid old die-hards believe that there is yet room for pride in one's work, Pook," Mr Pants said with dangerous emphasis. "Oh, rather, sir. I'd much sooner walk to London Town than ride in one of those motorcars we've heard tell of, sir."

Data provided by Wiktionary