rather

[Rath·er]

Use rather to specify a preference for one thing over another. Wouldn't you rather go to the movies than stay home and clean the house?

...

Prior; earlier; former.

Adverb
to some (great or small) extent; "it was rather cold"; "the party was rather nice"; "the knife is rather dull"; "I rather regret that I cannot attend"; "He''s rather good at playing the cello"; "he is kind of shy"

Adverb
to a degree (not used with a negative); "quite tasty"; "quite soon"; "quite ill"; "quite rich"

Adverb
on the contrary; "rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left"; "he didn''t call; rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter"; "used English terms instead of Latin ones"

Adverb
more readily or willingly; "clean it well, preferably with warm water"; "I''d rather be in Philadelphia"; "I''d sooner die than give up"


a.
Prior; earlier; former.

a.
Earlier; sooner; before.

a.
More readily or willingly; preferably.

a.
On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead.

a.
Of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat.

a.
More properly; more correctly speaking.

a.
In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp.


Rather

Rath"er , a. [Compar. of Rath, a.] Prior; earlier; former. [Obs.]
Now no man dwelleth at the rather town.

Rather

Rath"er , adv. [AS. hra'ebor, compar. of hra'ebe, hr'91'ebe, quickly, immediately. See Rath, a.] 1. Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.]
Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I.
A good mean to come the rather to grace.
2. More readily or willingly; preferably.
My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life.
3. On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead.
Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.
4. Of two alternatives conceived of, by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat.
He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain, And nowhere finding, rather feared her slain.
5. More properly; more correctly speaking.
This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature.
6. In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp. The rather, the more so; especially; for better reason; for particular cause.
You are come to me in happy time, The rather for I have some sport in hand.
-- Had rather, ∨ Would rather, prefer to; prefers to; as, he had, ∨ would, rather go than stay. "I had rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousands words in an unknown tongue." 1 Cor. xiv. 19. See Had rather, under Had.

Prior; earlier; former.

Earlier; sooner; before.

...

Usage Examples

Age should not have its face lifted, but it should rather teach the world to admire wrinkles as the etchings of experience and the firm line of character.

A singer for me is more like someone who is standing alone with a microphone like Scott Walker, rather than someone who is bashing a plank and is spitting all over a microphone.

All through life I've harbored anger rather than expressed it at the moment.

A leopard does not change his spots, or change his feeling that spots are rather a credit.

A wise woman knows how to summon her courage and do what is right, rather than what is easy.

A mother's ability to provide for her children is not always tied to income, but rather to education.

After all, sustainability means running the global environment - Earth Inc. - like a corporation: with depreciation, amortization and maintenance accounts. In other words, keeping the asset whole, rather than undermining your natural capital.

A company is stronger if it is bound by love rather than by fear.

Misspelled Form

rather, erather, 4rather, 5rather, trather, frather, eather, 4ather, 5ather, tather, father, reather, r4ather, r5ather, rtather, rfather, rqather, rwather, rsather, rzather, rqther, rwther, rsther, rzther, raqther, rawther, rasther, razther, rarther, ra5ther, ra6ther, rayther, ragther, rarher, ra5her, ra6her, rayher, ragher, ratrher, rat5her, rat6her, ratyher, ratgher, ratgher, ratyher, ratuher, ratjher, ratnher, ratger, ratyer, ratuer, ratjer, ratner, rathger, rathyer, rathuer, rathjer, rathner, rathwer, rath3er, rath4er, rathrer, rathser, rathder, rathwr, rath3r, rath4r, rathrr, rathsr, rathdr, rathewr, rathe3r, rathe4r, ratherr, rathesr, rathedr, ratheer, rathe4r, rathe5r, rathetr, rathefr, rathee, rathe4, rathe5, rathet, rathef, rathere, rather4, rather5, rathert, ratherf.

Other Usage Examples

A just laicism allows religious freedom. The state does not impose religion but rather gives space to religions with a responsibility toward civil society, and therefore it allows these religions to be factors in building up society.

A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.

A basic rule of life for reporters is that you should spend your time talking with and learning about people who are not sending you press releases, rather than those who are.

A committee is organic rather than mechanical in its nature: it is not a structure but a plant. It takes root and grows, it flowers, wilts, and dies, scattering the seed from which other committees will bloom in their turn.

A picture must possess a real power to generate light and for a long time now I've been conscious of expressing myself through light or rather in light.

A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

A women under stress is not immediately concerned with finding solutions to her problems but rather seeks relief by expressing herself and being understood.

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