Found 1 items, similar to The rather.
English → English (gcide) Definition: The rather Rather \Rath"er\ (r[a^][th]"[~e]r; 277), adv. [AS. hra[eth]or, compar. of hra[eth]e, hr[ae][eth]e, quickly, immediately. See Rath, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] A good mean to come the rather to grace. --Foxe. [1913 Webster] 2. More readily or willingly; preferably. [1913 Webster] My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life. --Job vii. 15. [1913 Webster] 3. On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead. [1913 Webster] Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. --Mark v. 26. [1913 Webster] 4. Of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat. [1913 Webster] He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain, And nowhere finding, rather feared her slain. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 5. More properly; more correctly speaking. [1913 Webster] This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 6. In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp. [1913 Webster] The rather, the more so; especially; for better reason; for particular cause. [1913 Webster] You are come to me in happy time, The rather for I have some sport in hand. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Had rather, or Would rather, prefer to; prefers to; as, he had rather, or would rather go than stay. “I had rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” --1 Cor. xiv. 19. See Had rather, under Had. [1913 Webster]