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We can use rather as an adverb of degree. It means "less than 'very' but more than 'a little'. It can be used to modify adjectives, adverbs, noun phrases, comparative adjectives, too and verbs, and is used mainly with words and ideas that have negative meanings:

Cambridge Dictionaries Online gives the following examples:

rather (SMALL AMOUNT)
adverb [not gradable]
quite; to a slight degree

			It's rather cold/difficult.
			Let me give you a different book - I think you'll find it rather easier.
			The train was rather too crowded for a comfortable journey.
			The dress was rather more expensive than I was expecting it would be, so I didn't buy it.
			She answered the telephone rather sleepily.
			I've rather foolishly lost their address.
			I rather think you should consider the trouble this decision will cause.
			I rather doubt I'll be able to come to your party.
			She's rather an egoistic, don't you think?
			It's a rather boring film.

Used with words and ideas that convey a positive meaning, rather means "unusually" or "unexpectedly":

Cambridge Dictionaries Online gives the following examples:

rather (VERY)
adverb, predeterminer [not gradable]
very; to a large degree

			I was rather pleased to be invited to the wedding.
			Actually, I did rather well in my exams.
			He's a rather nice man.
			He's rather a nice man.

Cambridge Dictionaries Online also lists the following meanings for rather:

rather (MORE EXACTLY)
adverb more accurately; more exactly

			She'll go to London on Thursday, or rather, she will if she has to.
			He's my sister's friend really, rather than mine.
			The dress is rather pink than purple.

Rather can also be used to express an opposite opinion.

			The ending of the war is not a cause for celebration, but rather for regret that it ever happened.
			No, I'm not tired. Rather the opposite in fact.

rather (PREFERENCE)
adverb
rather than in preference to; instead of

			I think I'd like to stay at home this evening rather than going out.
			Why don't you wear the black shoes rather than the brown ones?
			He likes starting early rather than staying late.

Rather one person than another person means that the second person certainly does not want to do what the first person is doing.

"I've got to have two teeth out next week.""Rather you than me."

rather (YES)
interjection
ESPECIALLY BRITISH INFORMAL
certainly; yes

"Do you want to come out for dinner with us this evening?" "Rather!"

To see many examples of the use of rather, see the Web Concordancer. Type rather into the 'search string' field, select any corpus in the 'select corpus' field, and then click on the 'search for concordances' button.

More information about rather:

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/ADVERBS7.cfm
http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/054.html
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/IF10.cfm