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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 © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms rather idiom

rather Synonyms

rather

interj.

I should say, certainly, of course, by all means, most assuredly, no doubt about it, and how!* you're telling me*.


rather

modif.

  1. To some degree

    fairly, somewhat, a little; see moderately, slightly, very.

  2. By preference

    first, by choice, in preference, sooner, more readily, willingly, much sooner, just as soon, as a matter of choice; see also preferably.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"rather." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/rather>

APA Style

rather. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/rather

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