Is "rather" shifting to become a verb?

Solution 1:

In this case, I think "would" is being used as the subjunctive of "will," "will" meaning to desire. So in the case you describe, it means something akin to "wish." I admit it sounds archaic, but I'm pretty sure it's okay. I know Shakespeare uses "I would it were..." often enough. And as you set out in the question, we still use it today.

The first two sentences, as written, don't make sense. "Rather" is not a verb. I've never heard it used like one, either. I'm guessing if you've heard that it was a mistake, and they meant to say/ type "I'd rather..."

So, as far as I know "I rather my opponents don't find out" doesn't make sense. "I'd rather my opponents don't find out" does. You can insert a verb into most of the sentences if using "would" as the subjunctive of will bothers you, but it's not necessary.

Solution 2:

I'd say that rather than 'rather' being a verb here, the verb is omitted and presumed to be obvious.

Now, pedantically speaking, this may be something to frown upon, but is certainly common. And, I agree, it is jarring to hear.

Solution 3:

In all but your first two examples, there is a verb - it's the contracted would in I'd. So the rather is modifying that would, which is used as the subjunctive of 'will' in the sense of 'want'.

Solution 4:

"Rather" here is functioning as an adverb. I don't understand those who say that there is no verb. This is a classic example of a fossilized, fixed expression, of which English (and most languages) have many.

As kitukwyfer stated, "would" here is the subjunctive of "will" in its older sense of "want", and the word order dates from a time when English, like German, had a stronger preference for verb-second word order, in which the finite verb is always the second phrasal element of a clause. (This can still be found in other fossilized expressions like "so do I" in which the word "I" is shifted to the end because the verb must occupy the second position.)

To sum up, every one of these expressions has not one, but two verbs. In this fixed expression, the so-called auxiliary is not really functioning as an auxiliary. It is the main verb, the subjunctive of its older meaning of "want," modified by the adverb "rather".

Solution 5:

Edit: A situation similar to that of “would rather” arises with “must away” in things like:

Farewell we call to hearth and hall!
Though wind may blow and rain may fall,
We must away ere break of day
Far over wood and mountain tall.

Just because “must away” seems to lack a verb immediately following the must does not make away function as a verb there. The actual verb is omitted, elliptically. That’s the same thing as is going on with “would rather”.  Away is still an adverb just as rather is still an adverb. Both constructs are a bit elliptical is all.

This is all covered under the OED’s sense 8 of rather, adv.. Full citations provided for senses 8e and 8f below:

⁠8. Sooner (as a matter of choice); more readily or willingly; with greater liking or goodwill; in preference.

• a. Used to express choice between two courses of action, or preference for one outcome or event over another. Freq. with would.

  In sentences of this type rather is placed either before the verb or clause expressing the action or event preferred, or immediately before than. For the use of to after than, see than conj. 1a.

• b. Used to express choice between two things, people, qualities, conditions, etc. Also †no rather, †more rather.

• c. Without than, in contrast to a preceding (sometimes implied) assertion. Used to indicate an alternative course of action, state of affairs, etc. Also the rather (rare), but rather.

• d. had rather: would rather; (see have v. 21c). †Hence to have rather (rare): to choose or prefer‥rather.

  The infinitive after had or have is sometimes preceded by to.

• e. would rather: would rather have or choose.

  • 1557    T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes 96,   I woulde rather one onely day of lyfe then all the ryches of Roome.
  • 1630    Bp. J. Hall Occas. Medit. §xlix,   I would rather never to haue light, then not to haue it alwayes.
  • 1675    R. Burthogge Cavsa Dei 99   The Parent‥who would rather than the better part of his estate‥he could reclaim and turn him.
  • a1727    W. Pattison Poet. Wks. (1728) II. 35   O! could I hide the Wish I fear to name! Would rather kinder Fortune guide my Flame!
  • 1792    F. Reynolds Notoriety ɪɪ. 24,   I would rather he'd have can'd me than nobody.
  • 1850    Punch 18 197/2,   I would rather a good dinner than a bad one.
  • 1862    Mrs. H. Wood Channings II. xvii. 262,   I would rather a nurse broke one of my children's limbs, than thus poisoned its fair young mind.
  • 1939    P. Gallagher My Story 54,   I would rather her stories than my father's.
  • 1998    M. J. Lanning Delivering Profitable Value ii. 52   Some smokers would rather a cigarette associated with a tough, masculine, independent cowboy who lives with his horse, riding through the rain in the desert.

• f. In contracted form, I'd (also you'd, etc.) rather: I (you, etc.) would rather.

  In this form of the phrase, would and had are morphologically and semantically indistinguishable as the intended verb.

  • 1601    R. Yarington Two Lamentable Trag. sig. C2^v,   Ide rather choose to feede on carefulnesse‥Then condiscend to offer violence.
  • 1620    I. C. Two Merry Milke-maids ɪᴠ. i. sig. K3^v,   I'd rather you wud let it alone, vnlesse you had a finer handkercher.
  • 1685    H. Bold & W. Bold tr. in Latine Songs xix. 66   I'd rather both your eyes were out.
  • 1710    Don Francisco Sutorioso 17   [He] swore, She was so ugly, He'd rather with the Devil's Pug lye.
  • 1740    S. Richardson Pamela I. 158   Can'st thou not stab me to the Heart? I'd rather thou wouldst, than say such another Word!
  • 1796    F. Burney Camilla IV. ᴠɪɪɪ. x. 376   She thinks so well of my son, that I'd rather he'd have her than an empress.
  • 1825    J. K. Paulding John Bull in Amer. xᴠ. 263   I'd rather a man would cut off my head at once, than spit in my face.
  • 1855    E. C. Gaskell North & South II. iii. 32   I'd rather think yo' a fool than a knave. No offence, I hope, sir.
  • 1876    F. H. Moore Mistress Haselwode II. v. 88   I'd rather a steady fire; these quick flames do burn them out by sheer fury.
  • 1935    H. Heslop Last Cage Down ɪ. v. 51   We'd rather you settled amicably, if that's what you mean.
  • 1970    A. J. P. Taylor Let. 2 Nov. in Lett. to Eva (1991) 19   I'd rather sit down over a good meal than go to the theatre.
  • 2002    N. Roberts Face Fire xviii. 313   I'd rather a storm than rain. We haven't had enough storms this summer.

• g. rather you (also him, her, etc.) than me (and variants): ‘I'm glad it's you (him, her, etc.) and not me’ (used to express relief at not being in the situation of the person referred to). Cf. soon adv. 10b.

The correct citation for the entry is:

rather, adv.

Third edition, December 2008; online version December 2011. < http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/158456 >; accessed 17 February 2012. An entry for this word was first included in New English Dictionary, 1903.