Definition of "rather" []

• More readily; preferably: I'd rather go to the movies. (adverb)
• With more reason, logic, wisdom, or other justification. (adverb)
• More exactly; more accurately: He's my friend, or rather he was my friend. (adverb)
• To a certain extent; somewhat: rather cold. (adverb)
• On the contrary. (adverb)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "There are days when I just cannot have straight coffee, but rather make a *rather* chocolaty mocha. made with dark chocolate chips AH!"
• "In the analysis of "_I had rather go_," _had_ is the predicate verb, the infinitive _go_ is the object complement, and the adjective _rather_ completes _had_ and belongs to _go_, i.e., is objective complement."
• "I have seen him in the streets when he would go anywhere, or turn down any passage, rather than meet me; and when compelled to meet me he would look up at the sky or survey the chimney tops _rather_ than see me. '"