Middle English word rather comes from Proto-Indo-European *kert-, Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂-, and later Proto-Germanic *hradaz (Quick, hasty.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *kert- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *ḱerh₂- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *hradaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Quick, hasty. |
| *hrunþaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | A horned beast, as in a neat or ox. |
| hræd | Old English (ang) | Quick, hasty. |
| *hraþô | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| hrūþ | Old English (ang) | |
| hriþer | Old English (ang) | Cattle. |
| hraþe | Old English (ang) | Quickly, rapidly. |
| rether | Middle English (enm) |