rathe

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]

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