rathe

See also: Rathe and raþe

English

Alternative forms

• rath

Etymology

From Middle English rathe, from Old English hraþe, from Proto-West Germanic *hraþō, *hradō (“quickly”), from *hraþ, *hrad (“quick”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kret- (“quick; to move quickly”).

Cognate with German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), and German gerade (“now, just, exactly”); compare Dutch rad (“quick, swift”), Norwegian rad (“quick, direct”), Gothic 𐍂𐌰𐌸𐍃 (raþs, “easy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɹeɪð/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪð

Adjective

rathe (comparative rather, superlative rathest)

1. (poetic) Ripening or blooming early.
   • 1637, John Milton, “Lycidas”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:

     Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies.

   • 1849, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam A.H.H., canto 111:

     Thy converse drew us with delight,
     The men of rathe and riper years:
     The feeble soul, a haunt of fears,
     Forgot his weakness in thy sight.

Adverb

rathe (comparative rather, superlative rathest)

1. (obsolete) Quickly.
2. (poetic) Early in the morning.

Related terms

• rather

Anagrams

• Earth, Erath, Harte, Heart, Herat, Herta, Taher, Terah, Thera, earth, hater, heart, rehat, th'are, thare

German

Verb

rathe

1. inflection of rathen:
   1. first-person singular present
   2. first/third-person singular subjunctive I
   3. singular imperative

Middle English

Alternative forms

• rade, rath, raþ, raþe, rauth
• hraþe, hraþa, raðæ, raðe, ræðe, ræðen, reaðe, reðe (early)

Etymology

Inherited from Old English hræþe (“soon, quickly”), from Proto-West Germanic *hraþō, *hradō; compare rad (“quick”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈraːð(ə)/, /ˈrað(ə)/

Adverb

rathe (comparative rathere, superlative rathest)

1. quickly, speedily
2. immediately, at once
3. now, presently

Related terms

• rather

Descendants

• English: rathe, rath (obsolete)
• Middle Scots: rathe, rath

References

• “rāth(e, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-03-30.

Adjective

rathe (comparative rathere, superlative rathest)

1. eager, decisive
2. rash, hasty, angry
3. early, soon
4. important, meaningful

Descendants

• English: rathe, rath (obsolete)
• Scots: rath
• Yola: raaye

References

• “rāth(e, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-03-30.