intj. (common).—A strong affirmative; ‘yes’; ‘I should think so’: sometimes RAYTHER. Also RATHERISH (American) = in some degree; slightly.
1836. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, 240. “Do you know the mayor’s house?” inquired Mr. Trott. “RATHER,” replied the boots, significantly, as if he had some good reason to remember it.
1862. New York Tribune, 22 April [Century]. Lavalette is RATHERISH against Popish temporality: Gen. Guyon is RATHER favourable to it.
RATHER OF THE RATHEREST, phr. (colloquial).—Said of anything slightly in excess or defect; in Norfolk of underdone meat.
