Definition of "rather"

Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants.

1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, page vii

I'd rather dance with you than talk with you / So why don't we just move into the other room

2004, Erlend Øye, Eirik Glambek Bøe (lyrics and music), “I'd Rather Dance with You”, performed by Kings of Convenience

What the pupil already knew was indeed rather taken for granted than expressed, but it performed the useful function of transcending all textbooks, and supplanting all studies.

1897 October 16, Henry James, chapter IX, in What Maisie Knew, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Herbert S. Stone & Co., page 94

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.

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

All this was extraordinarily distasteful to Churchill. […] Never before had he felt such repulsion when the vicar displayed his characteristic bluntness or coarseness of speech. In the present connection—or rather as a transition from the subject that had started their conversation—such talk had been distressingly out of place.

1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIV, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, pages 198–199

Pompey, being elated and filled with confidence by this victory, made all haste to engage Sertorius himself, and the rather lest Metellus should come in for a share in the honour of the victory.

1683, John Dryden, transl., Plutarch's Lives: Life of Pompey, translation of original by Plutarch

Until just before the pie was popped into the heat. A few of them suddenly realized who put that gorgeous hunk of crackers together, and gaped. We grinned back, but very cool. The ones who knew said nothing, rathering to die than let on they had been hustled by two negative dudes.

1984, Bruce Brooks, The Moves Make the Man

It was a plain brown dress, more or less the colour of my hair; and the walls of our kitchen being also brown, when I came downstairs again I could hardly be seen. I should have rathered a blue gown, or a violet one […]

2002, Sarah Waters, Fingersmith

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?

2002, Elizabeth Bowen, The Heat of the Day

"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.

2007, Mikel Schaefer, Lost in Katrina, page 323

Now no man dwelleth at the rather town of Damietta.

1900, John Mandeville, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (version in modern spelling)

"Do you mean to say, young man," she said frostily, "that you expect me to drink this stuff?" ¶ "Rather! Bucks you up, you know."

1919, P. G. Wodehouse, My Man Jeeves‎

"Farewell, Daughter of Eve," said he. "Perhaps I may keep the handkerchief?""Rather!" said Lucy, and then ran towards the far-off patch of daylight as quickly as her legs would carry her.

1950, C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

"Some of us stupid old die-hards believe that there is yet room for pride in one's work, Pook," Mr Pants said with dangerous emphasis. "Oh, rather, sir. I'd much sooner walk to London Town than ride in one of those motorcars we've heard tell of, sir."

1967, Peter Pook, Banker Pook Confesses‎