English Explanatory Dictionary

rather

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)
  2. Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.
  3. Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)
  4. Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.
  5. More quickly.
adj
  1. Prior; earlier; former.
intj
  1. An enthusiastic affirmation.
noun
  1. A choice or a preference.
verb
  1. To prefer; to prefer to.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

rä′thə /ˈɹɑː.ðə(ɹ)/ răth′ər rä′thər /ˈɹæðɚ/ en-us-rather.ogg rŭ’thə rä’thə /ˈɹʌðə(ɹ)/ /ˈɹɛðəɹ/ /ˈɹɑːðə(ɹ)/ /ˈɹɐː.ðə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-rather.wav /ˈrɑd̪ʱə(r)/ /ˈrad̪ʱə(r)/ /ˌɹɑːˈðɜː(ɹ)/

Word forms

rather raither rathers rathering rathered

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

sooner liefer somewhat fairly actually unexpectedly earlier

Antonyms

utterly

Derived words

I would rather die ratherish rather than sooner rather than later Rathergate Ratherism
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on R Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary