An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/eher

by Friedrich Kluge

eher, ehr, adv., ‘sooner, earlier, rather,’ from MidHG. and OHG. êr (ê), ‘formerly, previously,’ compar. adv.; comp. Goth. airis, ‘formerly,’ from air, ‘early,’ also AS. œ̂r, E. ere. See ehe, erst.