English Dictionary - With Multi-Lingual Search

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English

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Etymology
Via ME. from OE. hraþor

Pronunciation
(British) räth�(r), /�r��ð�(r)/, /<tt>"rA:D@(r)</tt>/
(American) r�th�r, /�ræð�/, /<tt>"r{D@`</tt>/
audio|en-us-rather.ogg|Audio (US)
:Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-æð�(r)|-æð�(r)
Hyphenation: rath·er

Adverb
en-adv|-

1. preferably|Preferably.

#:Often used with than, which introduces the less preferable alternative:
#:I'd rather stay in all day than go out with them.
#:I'd like this one rather than the other one.

1. somewhat|Somewhat, fairly.

#:This melon is rather tasteless.
#:This melon is rather tasteless, especially compared to the one we had last time.

1. dated more|More, more of.

#*1898, J. A. Hamilton, "w:Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Stanley, Edward George Geoffrey Smith", in Sidney Lee (Ed.), w:Dictionary of National Biography|Dictionary of National Biography, Volume LIV: Stanhope�Stovin, The MacMillan? Company, page 60,
#*:His �Iliad� is spirited and polished, and, though often rather a paraphrase than a translation, is always more truly poetic than most of the best translations.

Translations
trans-top|preferably
Finnish: mieluummin, ennemmin
German: eher
trans-mid
Latin: potius
Portuguese: preferivelmente, de preferência
Swedish: hellre
trans-bottom

trans-top|quite
Finnish: melko
German: eher, ziemlich
Portuguese: bastante, bem
trans-mid
Swedish: ganska
Spanish: algo, bastante
trans-bottom

Quotations

Late 1300's

But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,<br/>
Unto his povre parisshens aboute <br/>
&mdash; Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue

1536

Mine own John Poynz, since ye delight to know <br/>
The cause why that homeward I me draw, <br/>
And flee the press of courts, whereso they go, <br/>
Rather than to live thrall under the awe <br/>
Of lordly looks, wrappèd within my cloak, <br/>
To will and lust learning to set a law: <br/>
&mdash; Thomas Wyatt

1590

Well hoped I, and faire beginnings had, <br/>
That he my captiue langour should redeeme, <br/>
Till all vnweeting, an Enchaunter bad <br/>
His sence abusd, and made him to misdeeme <br/>
My loyalty, not such as it did seeme; <br/>
That rather death desire, then such despight. <br/>
&mdash; Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto VII

Late 1500's

I rather would have lost my life betimes <br/>
Than bring a burthen of dishonour home <br/>
By staying there so long till all were lost. <br/>
&mdash; William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part ii, Act III, Scene I

1674

Eve loath to be thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous to make tryal of her strength: <br/>
&mdash; John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book IX

1791

"I would rather (said he) have the rod to be the general terrour to all, to make them learn, than tell a child, if you do thus, or thus, you will be more esteemed than your brothers or sisters. <br/>
&mdash; James Boswell, Life of Johnson (Anno 1709-27)

1851

True, they rather order me about some, and make me jump from spar to spar, like a grasshopper in a May meadow.
&mdash; Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 1

1875

With an anvil-ding <br/>
And with fire in him forge thy will <br/>
Or rather, rather then, stealing as Spring <br/>
Through him, melt him but master him still: <br/>
&mdash; Gerald Manley Hopkins, The Wreck of the Deutschland

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• 2007-10-05 07:01 - Interwicket - iwiki +te

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