Search Result for "rather": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADVERB (4)

1. on the contrary;
- Example: "rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left"
- Example: "he didn't call rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter";
- Example: "used English terms instead of Latin ones"
[syn: rather, instead]

2. to some (great or small) extent;
- Example: "it was rather cold"
- Example: "the party was rather nice"
- Example: "the knife is rather dull"
- Example: "I rather regret that I cannot attend"
- Example: "He's rather good at playing the cello"
- Example: "he is kind of shy"
[syn: rather, kind of, kinda, sort of]

3. more readily or willingly;
- Example: "clean it well, preferably with warm water"
- Example: "I'd rather be in Philadelphia"
- Example: "I'd sooner die than give up"
[syn: preferably, sooner, rather]

4. to a degree (not used with a negative);
- Example: "quite tasty"
- Example: "quite soon"
- Example: "quite ill"
- Example: "quite rich"
[syn: quite, rather]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Rather \Rath"er\ (r[a^][th]"[~e]r), a. [Compar. of Rath, a.]
   Prior; earlier; former. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

         Now no man dwelleth at the rather town.  --Sir J.
                                                  Mandeville.
   [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Rather \Rath"er\ (r[a^][th]"[~e]r; 277), adv. [AS. hra[eth]or,
   compar. of hra[eth]e, hr[ae][eth]e, quickly, immediately. See
   Rath, a.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.]
      [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]

   2. More readily or willingly; preferably.
      [1913 Webster]

            My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life.
                                                  --Job vii. 15.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or
      suggested; instead.
      [1913 Webster]

            Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. --Mark
                                                  v. 26.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to,
      or as more likely than, the other; somewhat.
      [1913 Webster]

            He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain,
            And nowhere finding, rather feared her slain.
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. More properly; more correctly speaking.
      [1913 Webster]

            This is an art
            Which does mend nature, change it rather, but
            The art itself is nature.             --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the
      house is rather damp.
      [1913 Webster]

   The rather, the more so; especially; for better reason; for
      particular cause.
      [1913 Webster]

            You are come to me in happy time,
            The rather for I have some sport in hand. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Had rather, or Would rather, prefer to; prefers to; as,
      he had rather, 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.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

rather
    adv 1: on the contrary; "rather than disappoint the children, he
           did two quick tricks before he left"; "he didn't call;
           rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter"; "used
           English terms instead of Latin ones" [syn: rather,
           instead]
    2: to some (great or small) extent; "it was rather cold"; "the
       party was rather nice"; "the knife is rather dull"; "I rather
       regret that I cannot attend"; "He's rather good at playing
       the cello"; "he is kind of shy" [syn: rather, kind of,
       kinda, sort of]
    3: more readily or willingly; "clean it well, preferably with
       warm water"; "I'd rather be in Philadelphia"; "I'd sooner die
       than give up" [syn: preferably, sooner, rather]
    4: to a degree (not used with a negative); "quite tasty"; "quite
       soon"; "quite ill"; "quite rich" [syn: quite, rather]