rathe adjective. [reɪð] Now poet. & dial. Also rath [rɑ:Ɵ].
[Old English hræÞ, hræd = Old High German (h)rad, Old Norse hraðr, from Germanic base perh. rel. to base of RASH adjective & adverb. Cf. RARE adjective² & adverb².]
1. Quick in action; prompt; eager. OE.

2. Early; done or occurring before the fitting, usual, or natural time; spec. (of a flower or fruit) blooming or ripening early in the year. ME.

3. Of or pertaining to the first part of some period of time; esp. early in the day, belonging to the dawn or morning. LME.

Comb.:
rathe-ripe adjective & noun (a) adjective (of a fruit, vegetable, or grain) ripening early in the year; fig. precocious; (b) noun an early-ripening fruit etc.

■ ratheness noun (rare) earliness M17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

rathe adverb. [reɪð] Now poet. & dial. Compar. RATHER adverb. Superl. rathest.
[Old English hraÞe, hræÞe (= Middle Low German rade, Old High German (h)rado), formed as RATHE adjective.]
1. Quickly, rapidly; esp. without delay, promptly. OE-M17.

2. Early; before the fitting, usual, or natural time. Now only, early in the morning or day. ME.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

rathe noun. [reɪð] Now dial. See also RAVE noun¹. LME.
[Origin unkn.]
1. A rail of a cart; = RAVE noun¹ 1. LME.

2. Weaving. A bar with teeth, used to separate and guide the warp-threads. M16.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲