What is "the rather"

Rather \Rath"er\ (r[a^][th]"[~e]r; 277), adv. [AS. hra[eth]or, compar. of hra[eth]e, hr[ae][eth]e, quickly, immediately. See Rath, a.]

1. Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.]

   Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I.
   --Chaucer.

   A good mean to come the rather to grace.
   --Foxe.

2. More readily or willingly; preferably.

   My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life.
   --Job vii. 15.

3. On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead.

   Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.
   --Mark v. 26.

4. Of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat.

   He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain, And nowhere finding, rather feared her slain.
   --Dryden.

5. More properly; more correctly speaking.

   This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature.
   --Shak.

6. In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp.

   The rather, the more so; especially; for better reason; for particular cause.

   You are come to me in happy time, The rather for I have some sport in hand.
   --Shak.

   Had rather, or Would rather, prefer to; prefers to; as, he had rather, or would rather go than stay. ``I had rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.''
   --1 Cor. xiv. 19. See Had rather, under Had.