Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Rather
Rath′er
(răth′ẽr)
, Adj.
[Compar. of ]
Rath
, Adj.
Prior; earlier; former.
[Obs.]
Now no man dwelleth at the
rather
town. Sir J. Mandeville.
Rath′er
(răth′ẽr; 277)
, adv.
1.
Earlier; sooner; before.
[Obs.]
Thou shalt, quod he, be
rather
false than I. Chaucer.
A good mean to come the
rather
to grace. Foxe.
2.
More readily or willingly; preferably.
My soul chooseth . . . death
rather
than my life. Job vii. 15.
3.
On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead.
Was nothing bettered, but
rather
grew worse. Mark v. 26.
4.
Of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat.
He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain,
And nowhere finding,
And nowhere finding,
rather
feared her slain. Dryden.
5.
More properly; more correctly speaking.
This is an art
Which does mend nature, change it
The art itself is nature.
Which does mend nature, change it
rather
, butThe art itself is nature.
Shakespeare
6.
In some degree; somewhat;
as, the day is
rather
warm; the house is rather
damp.The rather
, the more so; especially; for better reason; for particular cause.
You are come to me in happy time,
– The rather
for I have some sport in hand. Shakespeare
Had rather
, or Would rather
prefer to; prefers to;
“I had rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” as, he
. had rather
, or would rather
go than stay1 Cor. xiv. 19.
See Had rather
, under Had
.Webster 1828 Edition
Rather
RATH'ER
,adv.
1.
More readily or willingly; with better liking; with preference or choice.My soul chooseth strangling and death rather than life. Job. 7.
Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3. Ps. 84.
2.
In preference; preferably; with better reason. Good is rather to be chosen than evil. See acts 5.3.
In a greater degree than otherwise.He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain, and no where finding, rather fear'd her slain.
4.
More properly; more correctly speaking.This is an art which does mend nature, change it rather; but the art itself is nature.
5.
Noting some degree of contrariety in fact.She was nothing better, but rather grew worse. Mark 5.
Matt. 27.
The rather, especially; for better reason; for particular cause.
You are come to me in a happy time, the rather for I have some sport in hand.
Had rather, is supposed to be a corruption of would rather.
I had rather speak five words with my understanding -
1Cor. 14.
This phrase may have been originally, 'I'd rather,' for I would rather, and the contraction afterwards mistaken for had. Correct speakers and writers generally use would in all such phrases; I would rather, I prefer; I desire in preference.