Where does “rather” come from?
Rather comes from Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, from Old English hræþe, from Old English hræd meaning swift, from Proto-Germanic hradaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kret-.
rather (English): More quickly; sooner, earlier; Used to specify a...
Definitions
- More quickly; sooner, earlier; Used to specify a...
Ancestry of “rather”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | rether | Alternative form of rother |
| 2 | Middle English | rathere | — |
| 3 | Old English | hraþor | sooner, quicker |
| 4 | Old English | hræþe | soon |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *hraþō | — |
Words derived from “rather”