rather

Adverb

Synonyms: instead kind of kinda sort of preferably sooner quite

WordNet 3.0

Adverb (4)

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”Synonyms: instead
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”Synonyms: kind of kinda sort of
more readily or willingly“clean it well, preferably with warm water”“I'd rather be in Philadelphia”“I'd sooner die than give up”Synonyms: preferably sooner
to a degree (not used with a negative)“quite tasty”“quite soon”“quite ill”“quite rich”Synonyms: quite

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]

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]