Word Study
rathe
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.
1 ripening early.
2 precocious.
Etymology
OE hr{aelig}th, hr{aelig}d f. Gmc
For further exploring for "rathe" in Webster Dictionary Online