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rather definition

rather (rat̸h′ər, rät̸h′-; for interj. ra′t̸hʉr′, rä′-)

adverb

  1. Obsolete more quickly; sooner
  2. more willingly; preferably would you rather have tea?
  3. with more justice, logic, reason, etc. one might rather say
  4. more accurately; more precisely his sister, or rather, stepsister
  5. on the contrary; quite conversely not a help, rather a hindrance
  6. somewhat; to some degree rather hungry

Etymology: ME < OE hrathor, compar. of hrathe, hræthe, quickly: see rathe

interjection

Chiefly Brit. yes; certainly
rather Idioms

had rather

Brit. would rather

rather than

instead of; in place of

would rather

  1. would choose to
  2. would prefer that

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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