Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rather \Rath"er\, adv. [AS. hra[eth]or, compar. of hra[eth]e,
   hr[ae][eth]e, quickly, immediately. See {Rath}, a.]
   1. Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.]

            Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I.
                                                  --Chaucer.

            A good mean to come the rather to grace. --Foxe.

   2. More readily or willingly; preferably.

            My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life.
                                                  --Job vii. 15.

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

            Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. --Mark
                                                  v. 26.

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

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

   5. More properly; more correctly speaking.

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

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

   {The rather}, the more so; especially; for better reason; for
      particular cause.

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

   {Had rather}, or {Would rather}, prefer to; prefers to; as,
      he had, or would, rather go than stay. ``I had rather
      speak five words with my understanding than ten thousands
      words in an unknown tongue.'' --1 Cor. xiv. 19. See {Had
      rather}, under {Had}.

Had \Had\, imp. & p. p. of {Have}. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS.
   h[ae]fde.]
   See {Have}.

   {Had as lief}, {Had rather}, {Had better}, {Had as soon},
      etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive
      without to, are well established idiomatic forms. The
      original construction was that of the dative with forms of
      be, followed by the infinitive. See {Had better}, under
      {Better}.

            And lever me is be pore and trewe. [And more
            agreeable to me it is to be poor and true.] --C.
                                                  Mundi (Trans.
                                                  ).

            Him had been lever to be syke. [To him it had been
            preferable to be sick.]               --Fabian.

            For him was lever have at his bed's head Twenty
            bookes, clad in black or red, . . . Than robes rich,
            or fithel, or gay sawtrie.            --Chaucer.

   Note: Gradually the nominative was substituted for the
         dative, and had for the forms of be. During the process
         of transition, the nominative with was or were, and the
         dative with had, are found.

               Poor lady, she were better love a dream. --Shak.

               You were best hang yourself.       --Beau. & Fl.

               Me rather had my heart might feel your love Than
               my unpleased eye see your courtesy. --Shak.

               I hadde levere than my scherte, That ye hadde rad
               his legende, as have I.            --Chaucer.

               I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such
               a thing as I myself.               --Shak.

               I had rather be a dog and bay the moon, Than such
               a Roman.                           --Shak.

               I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my
               God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
                                                  --Ps.
                                                  lxxxiv.10.