rather

alternative obsolete raither

1. not comparableUsed to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)First known use 9th c.

   They'd rather've spent the money on a holiday.

   5 more examples

   I'd rather not have spent all the money, but it really was an emergency.

   I would like this one rather than the other one.

   I s'pose we'd better clean the kitchen, but we had much rather not do anything right now.

   Tomorrow's impossible. We'd rather you came next weekend.

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

   1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii

   Synonyms: sooner, liefer

2. conjunctivenot comparableUsed to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.First known use 14th c.

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

   2 more examples

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

   Are the characteristics that are ascribed to lingua franca communication general lingua franca features? Or are they rather properties of the lingua franca that is presently most frequently used in this function – English?

   2022, Sabine Fiedler, Cyril Robert Brosch, “The aim of this book” (chapter 4), in Esperanto – Lingua Franca and Language Community, John Benjamins Publishing Company, →DOI, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, page 19

3. conjunctivenot comparableIntroducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)First known use 15th c.

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

   3 more examples

   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.

   1897 October 16, Henry James, chapter IX, in What Maisie Knew, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Herbert S. Stone & Co., →OCLC, page 94

   1898, J. A. Hamilton, "Stanley, Edward George Geoffrey Smith", in Sidney Lee (Ed.), Dictionary of National Biography, Volume LIV: Stanhope–Stovin, The MacMillan Company, page 60, 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.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIV, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, pages 198–199

4. not comparabledegreeSomewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.First known use 16th c.

   We had some rather worse news today.

   3 more examples

   It's been rather/quite a good meal overall, but this melon is rather too tasteless.

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

   Translated from the original Latin, it reads, “Ivan the third; does it with birds.” Rather juvenile, don’t you think?

   2005, Annabelle du Fouet, “The murky world from whence it all came” (chapter 2), in Weather Balloons Make Rotten Sex Toys, Ellora's Cave, →ISBN, page 45

   Synonyms: somewhat, fairly, actually, unexpectedly · Antonyms: utterly

5. not comparableobsoleteMore quickly.First known use 9th–19th c.

   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.

   1683, John Dryden, transl., Plutarch's Lives: Life of Pompey, translation of original by Plutarch

   Synonyms: sooner, earlier

alternative obsolete raither

1. not comparableobsoletePrior; earlier; former.

   Now no man dwelleth at the rather town of Damietta.

   1900, John Mandeville, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (version in modern spelling)

alternative obsolete raither

1. EnglanddatedAn enthusiastic affirmation.

   Would you like some? –Rather!

   3 more examples

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

   1919, P. G. Wodehouse, My Man Jeeves

   "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.

   1950, C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

   "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."

   1967, Peter Pook, Banker Pook Confesses

plural rathers · alternative obsolete raither

1. datedinformaluncommonA choice or a preference.

   I would rather do it by myself. I would rather, if I had my rathers, not be seen doing it.

   2000, Wendell Berry, Jayber Crow, A Novel, page 280

   1 more example

   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-

   1973, Chester B. Himes, Black on Black, Baby Sister and Selected Writings, page 46

present singular third person rathers · participle present rathering · participle past rathered · past rathered · alternative obsolete raither

1. dialectalnonstandardTo prefer; to prefer to.

   You'd rather us dead.

   4 more 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.

   1984, Bruce Brooks, The Moves Make the Man

   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; […]

   2002, Sarah Waters, chapter 2, in Fingersmith, London: Virago, →ISBN, part 1, page 38

   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?

   2002, Elizabeth Bowen, The Heat of the Day

   "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.

   2007, Mikel Schaefer, Lost in Katrina, page 323

plural Rathers

1. A surname.