01 a. Prior; earlier; former.
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1.
Prior; earlier; former.[Obs.]“Now no man dwelleth at the rather town.” — Sir J. Mandeville.
Entry
7 senses · 2 variants
Webster, 1913
Rather
02 adv. Earlier; sooner; before.
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1.
Earlier; sooner; before.[Obs.]“Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I.” — Chaucer.“A good mean to come the rather to grace.” — Foxe.
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2.
More readily or willingly; preferably.“My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life.” — Job vii. 15.
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3.
On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead.“Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.” — Mark v. 26.
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4.
Of two alternatives conceived of, this 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.” — Dryden.
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5.
More properly; more correctly speaking.“This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature.” — Shak.
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6.
In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp.“You are come to me in happy time, The rather for I have some sport in hand.” — Shak.