rathe

adjective

ˈrāt͟h

ˈrath

archaic

: early

Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies …—

John Milton

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, quick, from Old English hræth, alteration of hræd; akin to Old High German hrad quick

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of rathe was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

rat hare

rathe

rather

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Rathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rathe. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 4 Nov 2025 - Definition revised

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