[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

had \had\ ha^d, imp.  p. p. of have. oe. had, hafde,
   hefde, as. haefde.
   see have.
   1913 webster

   had as lief, had rather, had better, had as soon,
      etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive
      without to, are well established idiomatic forms. the
      original construction was that of the dative with forms of
      be, followed by the infinitive. see had better, under
      better.
      1913 webster

            and lever me is be pore and trewe.
            and more agreeable to me it is to be poor and
            true.                                --c. mundi
                                                  trans..
      1913 webster

            him had been lever to be syke.
            to him it had been preferable to be sick.
                                                  --fabian.
      1913 webster

            for him was lever have at his bed's head
            twenty bookes, clad in black or red, . . .
            than robes rich, or fithel, or gay sawtrie.
                                                  --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   note: gradually the nominative was substituted for the
         dative, and had for the forms of be. during the process
         of transition, the nominative with was or were, and the
         dative with had, are found.
         1913 webster

               poor lady, she were better love a dream. --shak.
         1913 webster

               you were best hang yourself.       --beau.  fl.
         1913 webster

               me rather had my heart might feel your love
               than my unpleased eye see your courtesy. --shak.
         1913 webster

               i hadde levere than my scherte,
               that ye hadde rad his legende, as have i.
                                                  --chaucer.
         1913 webster

               i had as lief not be as live to be
               in awe of such a thing as i myself. --shak.
         1913 webster

               i had rather be a dog and bay the moon,
               than such a roman.                 --shak.
         1913 webster

               i had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my
               god, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
                                                  --ps. lxxxiv.
                                                  10.
         1913 webster
see also:
have had as lief had rather had better had as soon better 

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