rather

Adverb

rather (not comparable)

1. Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)
   • 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.

   Synonyms:

   sooner, liefer

2. (conjunctive) Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.
   • It wasn't supposed to be popular; rather, it was supposed to get the job done.
   • She didn't go along, but rather went home instead.
3. (conjunctive) Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)
   • 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
   • 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.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
4. (degree) Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.
   • It's been rather/quite a good meal overall, but this melon is rather too tasteless.
   • We had some rather worse news today.

   Synonyms:

   somewhat, fairly, actually, unexpectedly

   Antonyms:

   utterly

5. (obsolete) More quickly.
   • 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

Adjective

rather (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Prior; 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)

Interjection

1. (England, dated) An enthusiastic affirmation.
   • Would you like some? –Rather!
   • "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

Noun

rather (plural rathers)

1. (dated, informal, uncommon) A choice or a preference.
   • 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
   • 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

Verb

rather (third-person singular simple present rathers, present participle rathering, simple past and past participle rathered)

1. (dialectal, nonstandard) To prefer; to prefer to.
   • You'd rather us dead.
   • 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

Proper noun capitalized: Rather

Rather (plural Rathers)

1. A surname.