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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rather, -ir, Raithar, adv. Also: rayth(t)-; reth-, reith- and -ere, -are, -air. [ME (c1200, Layamon) and e.m.E. raðer, raþir, rather(e, -ir; rether (c1450), compar. of Rathe adv.]

1. Sooner, more quickly; the sooner. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 9.
Womenis honore is tendyr & slyddir, And raithar brekis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 159.
Knawing that thow wald cum the rather, he said [etc.]

2. The rather, the more readily (for a specified reason, or const. becaus or that); (all) the more.Also, so meikill (much) the rather that.See also senses 1, 3 and 5.(1) 1543 St. P. Henry VIII V 353.
We pray ȝoure grace to grant, the rather that we beleif [etc.] 1556 Facs. Nat. MSS III xxviii.
Tak considderatioun of thir premissis … as ye will ansuer to ws and the rather for this our requeist 1559 Corr. M. Lorraine 429.
And the rethair for my requeist and desyir 1570 Leslie 40.
The court of Rome admittit the princis supplicationis the rather that they gat greyt proffeit … thairby 1575 Reg. Privy C. II 476.
Quhilk hes the rather past ower without dew punishment in tyme bipast, becaus of the negligent executioun of the lawes(2) 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 9.
And that so meikill the rather that God had mervelously … oppenit the mouth of hir awin bairn to be witness against hir 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 361.
And that so muche the rather that the delay … is of ane dangerous consequence

3. More truly or accurately, with closer correspondence to the facts.

a. Const. nor, than or or, also without const.Also, once, the rather.(1) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Yhe sulde … callys thaim rather brekaris of the trew than me 1549 Compl. 4/15.
His … entreprise, vas conuoyit & succurrit be ane diuyne miracle, rather nor be the ingyne of men 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6858.
Rather mair nor les 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 533.
And rather or she fallit thairin to be [etc.] 1581 Burne Disput. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 151/5.
That ye ar rather blindit than thay 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 115.
As men growis in aige thair hand is war staiblit and thairfoir thai writ rather greitar nor smallar 1585 Acts III 383/1.
To gouerne … rather be luif nor be dreadour 1596 Dalr. I 105/16.
Quhilkes that rathir thay appeir nocht to be spokne of a vane ostentatione, than of the veritie, befoir ȝour eyne sal we [etc.] 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. vii.
If in death we could count our just kinsh, we might rather dismay and feare 1657 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII 34.
Fryday: sollitarie; 4 rathere wispes then botles(b) 1602 Colville Paraenese Ep. 4.
Rether Ib. 65.
Ve seme rether to be degenerat nor ingenerat of such parents(c) 1613–25 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 289.
Reither(d) 1639 Dunferm. Ann. 305.
Rayther 1651 Laing MSS I 267.(2) 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 578.
Usurpand the rather the office of princes nor liegis

b. Bot rather. After a negative or quasi-negative statement, introducing a corresponding affirmation.Also disjunctive.(1) a1500 Colk. Sow Prol. 64.
I propone nocht as wis presumpteous, Bot rathir sport myne awin spereit to reios 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
Not that his gud systyr … [be] ocht therby mynyst in hyr autorite bot raythare mantenyt … in the sammyne 1551 Hamilton Cat. 87.
Gif thai … punis misdoaris, nocht for the lufe of justice … bot rather of ire a1578 Pitsc. I 75/18.
Manis Reidman nothing feired … bot rather [etc.] 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 454.
The tempest … na wais lykin to grow les, Bot rather to be mair a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 530.
Few folk speirs to the fair wifes house bot rather to the gude(2) 1562-3 Winȝet II 26/2.
It becumis ws nocht to leid the religioun quhat way we wald, bot that we rather suld follow it, quhat way it wald leid ws 1596 Dalr. I 112/10.
Nathir cam this manir of nobilitie to Scotland with thame … , bot with thame rathir grew vp, quha first inhabited Scotland

c. Or rather. Introducing a statement that amends or corrects one already made. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 126/12.
It is to be considderit, or rather to be merualit a1568 Scott xxvii 30.
Als gud luve cumis as gais, Or rathir bettir 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 171/531. 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose (1687) 365.
This man, or monster rather

d. More probably. — ? a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 441/23.
The thing quhilk thow … franis fast grantit to be Wald rathair cast thé in the myire Thane [etc.]

4. Sooner, as a matter of conscience; more justly or fitly; more properly.Also const. nor, than. 1549 Compl. 96/27.
He ordand that na Scottis man suld duel in ane house that vas loftit, bot rather in ane litil cot house 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 25.
And helpe thame, rather, in distres, Nor thame that hes the gret ryches a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 137/7.
Alvais the interpretacione of the kirk is rather to be folowit a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 319/57.
Bot we sould rather all lament Thir plaigis perturband ws sa sair 1602 Colville Paraenese Ep. 11.
It becummit[h] vs rether to pyik out all passages that [etc.]

5. Sooner, as a matter of preference or choice; more willingly or with greater liking.

a. After a verb of desiring or choosing. Const. infin. or clause obj.Also, once, the rather. 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Of the qwhilke yhe desire rather that amendis war made than ony mar harme war done 1581 Burne Disput. 171b.
Albeit Beze desyris rather to behald the images of Audebert 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 529.
Rather nor … sic inconvenientis sould haue ensewit, he chesit rather … to renunce … the said office 1600 Haddington Corr. 209.
Haveing veritie for subject, … I have chosin the rather to returne your messinger with this anssuer, nor [etc.]

b. (One) will or wald (do something). Const. than, nor or or, also without const.Also, once, with imperative.(1) 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 182 (G).
I will raythtair attribut the misknawin thairoff to my negligence … nor vderwys 1570 Sat. P. xvii 71.
Bot as sum stringis will rather brek nor be 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 259.
Rather or they rendered this geir, they will hazard both body and soul(2) a1651 Calderwood V 256.
He prayed that the Lord would compell the king by his sanctified plagues to turne to Him rather er he perish 1692 Pitcairne Assembly (1766) 31.
If I had such tenandry in my little interest … I should let it ly ley rather(3) 1585 James VI Ess. 78.
Then, rather loaue my meaning and my panis, Then lak my dull ingyne

c. (One) had rather = wald rather, see b above. Const. infin. without to, or clause. a1500 Sir Eger 1705.
He had rather his fellow at hame Had the worschip Ib. 2796. 1562-3 Winȝet I 68/20.
We had rather [pr. leuir] be callit … ignorantis, nor [etc.] 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary I 36. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 16. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 135.
But I had rather haue passit with ȝow

d. With omission of wald (have) or had. Variously const. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4377.
I rather geuin all my hors [etc.] … Or ȝe had [etc.] Ib. 6683.
Or I war cummerit with thé sa as I am, I rather burne thé ten times in ane fire 1596 Dalr. I 97/23.
Quhairthrouch … be steiling and reif, thay rather seik thair meit a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xiii 1.
I rather far be fast nor frie 1609 Crim. Trials II 577.
I rather my life and all war takin, befoir I sould [etc.]

e. With omission of subj. and any of the auxiliary verbs in a-c above. — a1568 Scott xiii 22.
Rathir nor smart, I mon my harme reweill To ȝow