·adj Prior; earlier; former.
II. Rather ·adj Earlier; sooner; before.
III. Rather ·adj More readily or willingly; preferably.
IV. Rather ·adj More properly; more correctly speaking.
V. Rather ·adj On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead.
VI. Rather ·adj In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp.
VII. Rather ·adj Of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat.