rather English · revision 3632

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf (Old English hraþor)|origins=gem-pro *hrathaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈrɑː.ðə/, US /ˈræð.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|rather]], [[inh|ang|hraþor|t=more quickly; earlier, sooner]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) the comparative of [[m|ang|hraþe|t=quickly, soon]], the source of [[rathe]], itself related to [[m|ang|hræþ|t=quick, nimble]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004) from [[gem-pro|*hrathaz]],^(Barnhart 1988) which Etymonline and Barnhart connect with [[ine-pro|*kret-|t=to shake]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Its relatives include [[non|hraðr]] and [[goh|hrad]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ More quickly, sooner: Old English ''hraþor'', about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By about 1175 ''rather'' meant “more readily, more properly, sooner”, and before 1200 “instead of”.^(Barnhart 1988) “On the contrary” is from the late 13th century and “preferably” from about 1300.^(Etymonline) Middle English also used it as an adjective, “earlier, former”, as in Wycliffe's “he was rather than I” (John 1:30)^(Trench 1859) and Spenser's “the rather lambes” (1579).^(Etymonline)^(Trench 1859) The sense “somewhat” is from the 16th century,^(Hoad 1986)^(HTOED) and “moderately” by the 1660s.^(Etymonline) The positive ''rathe'' was obsolete by the 18th century except in poetry.^(Etymonline) The emphatic reply ''Rather!'' first appears in Dickens's ''Sketches by Boz'' (1835–36).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''hraþor'' (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1175 – more readily, sooner.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 13th century – on the contrary.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – preferably.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1573 – somewhat.^(HTOED)

+ * 1660s – moderately.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1835–36 – ''Rather!'' (Dickens).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # More readily; [[preferably]]: ''I'd rather walk''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # With better reason or more justification.^(AHD)

+ # More exactly: ''late last night, or rather early this morning''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To some extent; [[somewhat]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # On the contrary.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(British, dated)'' Certainly; used as an emphatic yes.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[druthers]]

+ * [[rather than]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rathe]]

+ * [[soon]]

+ * [[sooner]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that in expressions of preference ''rather'' usually follows ''would'' or, formally, ''should'', and that ''had rather'' is now less common but still found in good writing.^(AHD) The Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary records an old-fashioned British pronunciation /ˌrɑːˈðɜː/ for the emphatic reply.^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}