rather

The story

1. Old English · inherited fromhraþor
2. Middle English · inherited fromrather
3. English todayrather

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.

First known use, by meaning

• from 9th c. Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)
• from 14th c. Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.
• from 15th c. Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)
• from 16th c. Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.
• 9th–19th c. More quickly.