I. ˈrāth, ˈrath adverb
Etymology: Middle English, rapidly, from Old English hrathe, hræthe; akin to Middle Dutch rade rapidly, Old High German rado; derivative from the stem of Old English hræd rapid, fast
chiefly dialect : early in the day, season, or period
rathe she rose — Alfred Tennyson
II. adjective
or rath ˈrath
Etymology: Middle English, quick, rapid, fast, from Old English hræth, alteration (influenced by hrathe, hræthe, adverb) of hræd; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German rat quick, rapid, fast, Old High German hrad, rad, Old Norse hrathr, and perhaps Middle Irish crothaim I shake, Lithuanian kresti to shake
chiefly dialect : early in the day, the season, or year : done, coming, or ready before others of its class or before the usual time or season ; specifically : early-blooming or early-bearing
bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies — John Milton
the rathe wheat — W.E.Henley
• rathe·ness noun -es