RATHER (2)

Rath″er (răt͡h″ẽr; 277), adv. [[AS. hraðor, compar. of hraðe, hræðe, quickly, immediately. See Rath, a.]] 1. 1. Earlier; sooner; before.
Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I. Chaucer. A good mean to come the rather to grace. Foxe. 2. 2. More readily or willingly; preferably.
My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life. Job vii. 15. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 5. More properly; more correctly speaking.
This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature. Shak. 6. 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. Shak. — Had rather, or Would rather, prefer to; prefers to; as, he had, or would, rather go than stay. “I had rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” 1 Cor. xiv. 19. See Had rather, under Had.