Had \Had\ (h[a^]d), imp. & p. p. of Have. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. h[ae]fde.]

See Have. [1913 Webster]

Had as lief, Had rather, Had better, Had as soon, etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well established idiomatic forms. The original construction was that of the dative with forms of be, followed by the infinitive. See Had better, under Better. [1913 Webster]

And lever me is be pore and trewe. [And more agreeable to me it is to be poor and true.]

--C. Mundi (Trans.). [1913 Webster]

Him had been lever to be syke. [To him it had been preferable to be sick.]

--Fabian. [1913 Webster]

For him was lever have at his bed's head Twenty bookes, clad in black or red, . . . Than robes rich, or fithel, or gay sawtrie. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Note: Gradually the nominative was substituted for the dative, and had for the forms of be. During the process of transition, the nominative with was or were, and the dative with had, are found. [1913 Webster]

Poor lady, she were better love a dream. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

You were best hang yourself. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

Me rather had my heart might feel your love Than my unpleased eye see your courtesy. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

I hadde levere than my scherte, That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

I had rather be a dog and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. --Ps. lxxxiv. 10. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

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.]

[1913 Webster]

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

[1913 Webster]

Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

A good mean to come the rather to grace. --Foxe. [1913 Webster]

2. More readily or willingly; preferably. [1913 Webster]

My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life. --Job vii. 15. [1913 Webster]

3. On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead. [1913 Webster]

Was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. --Mark v. 26. [1913 Webster]

4. Of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat. [1913 Webster]

He sought throughout the world, but sought in vain, And nowhere finding, rather feared her slain. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

5. More properly; more correctly speaking. [1913 Webster]

This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp. [1913 Webster]

The rather, the more so; especially; for better reason; for particular cause. [1913 Webster]

You are come to me in happy time, The rather for I have some sport in hand. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Rather \Rath"er\, 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, 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, or would, rather go than stay. ``I had rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousands words in an unknown tongue.'' --1 Cor. xiv. 19. See Had rather, under Had.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Had \Had\, imp. & p. p. of Have. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. h[ae]fde.]

See Have.

Had as lief, Had rather, Had better, Had as soon, etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well established idiomatic forms. The original construction was that of the dative with forms of be, followed by the infinitive. See Had better, under Better.

And lever me is be pore and trewe. [And more agreeable to me it is to be poor and true.]

--C. Mundi (Trans. ).

Him had been lever to be syke. [To him it had been preferable to be sick.]

--Fabian.

For him was lever have at his bed's head Twenty bookes, clad in black or red, . . . Than robes rich, or fithel, or gay sawtrie. --Chaucer.

Note: Gradually the nominative was substituted for the dative, and had for the forms of be. During the process of transition, the nominative with was or were, and the dative with had, are found.

Poor lady, she were better love a dream. --Shak.

You were best hang yourself. --Beau. & Fl.

Me rather had my heart might feel your love Than my unpleased eye see your courtesy. --Shak.

I hadde levere than my scherte, That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I. --Chaucer.

I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. --Shak.

I had rather be a dog and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. --Shak.

I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. --Ps. lxxxiv.10.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)