eher

German

Etymology

From Old High German ēr (“formerly, previously”). Cognate with Old English ǣr, English ere, Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌹𐍃 (airis, “formerly”).[1] From *airiz.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈeːəʁ/, [ˈʔeːɐ]
  • Audio(file)

Adverb

eher

  1. rather, quite
  2. comparatively, somewhat
    • 2010, Der Spiegel, issue 45/2010, page 17:
      Eine Paketbombe, die Anfang vergangener Woche im Kanzleramt eintraf, war von eher geringer Sprengkraft.
      A parcel bomb, which arrived in the Chancellery at the beginning of last week, was of comparatively smaller explosive force.
    • 2012 June 18, Die Welt , page 10:
      Die Verbraucher in Deutschland halten sich beim Konsum von Fisch angesichts hoher Preise eher zurück.
      Consumers in Germany somewhat hold back from the consumption of fish in the face of high prices.
  3. earlier

See also

References
  1. eher in Kluge's Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, 1891

Further reading
  • eher in Duden online
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