different between rather vs never

English

Alternative forms

• raither (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English rather, rether, from Old English hraþor (“sooner, earlier, more quickly”), comparative of hraþe (“hastily, quickly, promptly, readily, immediately, soon, at once, directly”), equivalent to rathe +? -er. More at rathe. Cognate with Dutch radder (“faster”), comparative of Dutch rad (“fast; quick”), German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), German gerade (“even; straight; direct”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: rä?th?(r), IPA^(key): /????.ð?/
• Rhymes: -??ð?(r)
• (UK) (interjection) IPA^(key): /?????ð??(?)/
• (US) enPR: r??th?r, rä?th?r, IPA^(key): /??æ.ð?/, /???.ð?/
• Rhymes: -æð?(r)
• Hyphenation: rath?er

Adverb

rather (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) More quickly. [9th-19th c.]

   Synonyms: sooner, earlier

2. Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than) [from 9th c.]

   Synonym: (archaic) liefer
3. (conjunctive) Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary. [from 14th c.]

4. (conjunctive) Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.) [from 15th c.]
   • 1898, J. A. Hamilton, "Stanley, Edward George Geoffrey Smith", in Sidney Lee (Ed.), Dictionary of National Biography, Volume LIV: Stanhope–Stovin, The MacMillan Company, page 60,

     His ‘Iliad’ is spirited and polished, and, though often rather a paraphrase than a translation, is always more truly poetic than most of the best translations.

5. (degree) Somewhat, fairly. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: somewhat, fairly, quite

   Antonym: utterly

Usage notes

• (somewhat): This is a non-descriptive qualifier, similar to quite and fairly and somewhat. It is used where a plain adjective needs to be modified, but cannot be qualified. When spoken, the meaning can vary with the tone of voice and stress. “He was rather big” can mean anything from “not small” to “huge” (meiosis with the stress on rather).
• (preference): When expressing preference, the expression is usually would rather or had rather, usually contracted to 'd rather, but will rather and should rather also exist. In fact, use without any modal verb also exists in nonstandard and dialectal usage, in which rather is used as a verb (he rathers/rathered), see below.

Translations

Verb

rather (third-person singular simple present rathers, present participle rathering, simple past and past participle rathered)

1. (nonstandard or dialectal) To prefer; to prefer to.
   • 2002, Elizabeth Bowen, The Heat of the Day:

     So you must excuse my saying anything I did: all it was, that up to the very last I had understood us all to be friendly — apart, that is, from his rathering me not there. How was I to know he would flash out so wicked?

   • 2007, Mikel Schaefer, Lost in Katrina, page 323:

     "That was a killer," said Chris. "I'd rathered die in St. Bernard than spent one minute over there. I would have rathered the storm, shaking with the wind and rain hitting in the boat for an eternity than spending any time there.

Adjective

rather (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Prior; earlier; former.
   • 1900, John Mandeville, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (version in modern spelling)

     Now no man dwelleth at the rather town of Damietta.

Interjection

rather

1. (England, dated) An enthusiastic affirmation.

Anagrams

• Harter

Middle English

Alternative forms

• rathar, rathir, rathur, rathre, rether
• ræðer, hraþar, reaðere, redþer, rader, radder, radir, ratherne, raþeren (early)

Etymology

From Old English hraþor.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ra?ð?r/

Adverb

rather

1. rather

Descendants

• English: rather
• Yola: rether

References

• “r?ther(e, adv. comparative.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

English

Alternative forms

• neuer (obsolete)
• ne'er, neva, nev'r, nevah, nevuh

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?n?v.?(?)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?n?.v?/, [?n?v??]
• Rhymes: -?v?(?)
• Hyphenation: nev?er

Etymology

From Middle English nevere, navere, nævere, from Old English n?fre (“never”), equivalent to ne +? ever.

Adverb

never (not comparable)

1. At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.
   • 1634, William Shakespeare, John Fletcher, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Act 2, Scene 4,

     Why should I love this Gentleman? Tis odds / He never will affect me;

   • 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Chapter XXI: A New Departure in Flavorings,

     "I never thought you were so fond of Mr. Phillips that you'd require two handkerchiefs to dry your tears just because he was going away," said Marilla.

   • 1919, B. G. Jefferis, J. L. Nichols, Searchlights on Health: Sensible Rules for the Nurse,

     Never speak of the symptoms of your patient in his presence, unless questioned by the doctor, whose orders you are always to obey implicitly.

2. Not at any other time; not on any other occasion; not previously.
   • 1601 November 30, Elizabeth I of England, Elizabeth I's Farewell Speech,

     There is no jewel, be it of never so rich a price, which I set before this jewel: I mean your love.

   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 4,

     "He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"

   • 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Chapter XIII: The Delights of Anticipation,

     I never saw such an infatuated man.

3. (colloquial) Negative particle (used to negate verbs in the simple past tense; also used absolutely).

Antonyms

• all the time
• always
• consistently
• constantly
• continually
• continuously
• ever

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

never

1. A statement of defiance

Derived terms

Anagrams

• Verne, erven, nerve

Latvian

Verb

never

1. 2nd person singular present indicative form of nev?rt
2. 3rd person singular present indicative form of nev?rt
3. 3rd person plural present indicative form of nev?rt
4. 2rd singular imperative form of nev?rt
5. (with the particle lai) 3rd person singular imperative form of nev?rt
6. (with the particle lai) 3rd person plural imperative form of nev?rt

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology 1

From Old Norse næfr.

Noun

never f or m (definite singular neveren or nevra, indefinite plural nevrer or nevre, definite plural nevrene)

1. birchbark

Etymology 2

Noun

never m

1. indefinite plural of neve

References

• “never” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Old Norse næfr.

Noun

never f (definite singular nevra, indefinite plural nevrar or nevrer, definite plural nevrane or nevrene)

1. birchbark

References

• “never” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Romansch

Alternative forms

• (Rumantsch Grischun, Puter, Vallader) naiver
• (Sursilvan, Surmiran) neiver

Etymology

From neiv or from Vulgar Latin *nivic?, *nivic?re < *niv?, niv?re, from Latin nix, nivis, from Proto-Indo-European *níg??s, *sníg??s (“snow”).

Verb

never

1. (Sutsilvan) to snow

Related terms

• nev