n. [ Ir. rath. ]
Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Why rise ye up so rathe? Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
Too rathe cut off by practice criminal. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Compar. of Rath, a. ] Prior; earlier; former. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Now no man dwelleth at the rather town. Sir J. Mandeville. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. [ AS. hraðor, compar. of hraðe, hræðe, quickly, immediately. See Rath, a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
A good mean to come the rather to grace. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]
My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life. Job vii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]
Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. Mark v. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]
He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain,
And nowhere finding, rather feared her slain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
This is an art
Which does mend nature, change it rather, but
The art itself is nature. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
The rather,
The rather for I have some sport in hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Had rather,
Would rather
a. Rareripe, or early ripe. --
Such who delight in rathripe fruits. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ G., also