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rathermore about rather

rather

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Rather  \Rath"er\,  a.  [Compar.  of  {Rath},  a.] 
  Prior;  earlier;  former.  [Obs.] 
 
  Now  no  man  dwelleth  at  the  rather  town.  --Sir  J. 
  Mandeville. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Rather  \Rath"er\,  adv  [AS.  hra[eth]or,  compar.  of  hra[eth]e, 
  hr[ae][eth]e,  quickly,  immediately.  See  {Rath},  a.] 
  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  by  preference  to  or  as 
  more  likely  than  the  other  somewhat. 
 
  He  sought  throughout  the  world,  but  sought  in  vain, 
  And  nowhere  finding,  rather  feared  her  slain. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  5.  More  properly;  more  correctly  speaking. 
 
  This  is  an  art  Which  does  mend  nature,  change  it 
  rather,  but  The  art  itself  is  nature.  --Shak. 
 
  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.  --Shak. 
 
 
  {Had  rather},  or  {Would  rather},  prefer  to  prefers  to  as 
  he  had  or  would  rather  go  than  stay.  ``I  had  rather 
  speak  five  words  with  my  understanding  than  ten  thousands 
  words  in  an  unknown  tongue.''  --1  Cor.  xiv.  19.  See  {Had 
  rather},  under  {Had}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  rather 
  adv  1:  on  the  contrary;  "rather  than  disappoint  the  children,  he 
  did  two  quick  tricks  before  he  left";  "he  didn't  call 
  rather  (or  instead),  he  wrote  her  a  letter";  "used 
  English  terms  instead  of  Latin  ones"  [syn:  {instead}] 
  2:  to  some  (great  or  small)  extent;  "it  was  rather  cold";  "the 
  party  was  rather  nice";  "the  knife  is  rather  dull";  "I 
  rather  regret  that  I  cannot  attend";  "He's  rather  good  at 
  playing  the  cello";  "he  is  kind  of  shy"  [syn:  {kind  of},  {kinda}, 
  {sort  of}] 
  3:  more  readily  or  willingly;  "clean  it  well  preferably  with 
  warm  water";  "I'd  rather  be  in  Philadelphia";  "I'd  sooner 
  die  than  give  up"  [syn:  {preferably},  {sooner}] 
  4:  to  a  degree  (not  used  with  a  negative);  "quite  tasty"; 
  "quite  soon";  "quite  ill";  "quite  rich"  [syn:  {quite}]




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