rath

[Ir.] 1. A hill. It occurs frequently in place-names in Ireland, as Rath more , Rathgar , . 2. A kind of pre-historic fortification in Ireland, consisting of a circular rampart of earth with a mound artificially raised in the center. "The remains of you sands of these forts or raths still stud the lowlands of every county in Ireland."-Dawkins: Early Man in Britain , ch. x. *rath, *rathe, a . & adv . [A. S. hradhe =quickly (compar. hradhor, super. hradhost ), from hrædh, hredh = quick, swift; Icel. hradhr = swift, fleet; M. H. Ger. rad, hrad quick.] A. As adj .: Early; coming before others or before the usual time; premature. "The rathe primrose."-Milton: Lycidas, 142. B. As adv.: Early, soon, betimes, speedily. "What aileth you so rathe for to arise!" Chaucer: C. T. , 3,766. ra-ther, adv. & a. [Prop. the comparative of rath or rathe (q. v.).] A. As adverb : *1. Earlier, sooner, before. "Bote ye ryse the rathere , and rathe yow to worche Shal no greyn that here greweth, gladen yow at neede." Piers Plowman , 134. 2. More readily, more willingly; with preference or choice. "Men loved darkne rather than light."- John iii. 19. 3. In preference; preferably; with better reason; on better grounds. 4. In a greater degree than otherwise. 5. More properly; more correctly speaking. "I have followed it, or it hath drawn me rather." Shakesp.: Tempest, i. 2. 6. On the contrary. (Used as a form of correction of a statement.) "Do I speak you fair for rather do I not in plainest truth tell you I cannot love you?"-Shakesp.: Midsummer Night's Dream , ii. 1. 7. In some degree or measure; somewhat, moderately; as, He is rather better to-day. 8. Used ironically, as a strong affirmative. ( Slang .) *B. As adj .: Earlier, former, sooner. "This is he that I seyde of, aftir me is comun a man which was made bifore me, for he was rather than I."Wycliffe: John i. 30. (1) Had rather : [HAVE.] (2) Rather of the ratherest: A term applied to anything slightly in exce or defect. ( Colloq .) (3) The rather: For better reason; more especially. "The rather for I have some sport in hand." Shakesp.: Taming of the Shrew , i. (Induct.) rath-o-lite, s . [From Ratho, Edinburgh, where found, and Gr. lithos a stone.] Min.: The same as PECTOLITE (q. v.). *rath'-ripe, *rathe'-ripe, a. & s. [Eng. rath , and ripe .] son; rareripe. A. As adj .: Early ripe; ripe before the usual sea"Those hard ratheripe pease."-Venner: Via Recta , p. 184. B. As subst.: A rareripe. rathripe-barley, s. Barley that has been long cultivated upon warm gravelly soil, so that it ripens a fortnight earlier than common barley under different circumstances. ( Eng . Prov.)