rathe

• POS: Adjective

CIDE DICTIONARY

rathe, a. [AS. hræ&edh;, hræd, quick, akin to OHG. hrad, Icel. hra&edh;r.].

 Coming before others, or before the usual time; early.  [1913 Webster]
"Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies."  [1913 Webster]

rathe, adv. 

 Early; soon; betimes.  [1913 Webster]
"Why rise ye up so rathe?"  [1913 Webster]
"Too rathe cut off by practice criminal."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

rathe, adj. poet. coming, blooming, etc., early in the year or day.

Idiom

rathe-ripe
1 ripening early.
2 precocious.

Etymology

OE hr{aelig}th, hr{aelig}d f. Gmc