Lief

Pronunciation

• IPA: /liːf/
• Rhymes: -iːf

Origin

From Old English lēof, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz. Cognate with Dutch lief, German lieb, Russian любовь, Polish luby, Swedish and Norwegian Nynorsk ljuv, Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍆𐍃.

Adverb: Compare German lieber, Dutch liever ("preferably, rather")

Adjective

1. (archaic) beloved, dear, agreeable
2. (archaic) willing

Derived terms

• liefsome

Adverb

1. (archaic, except UK dialectal) Readily, willingly.
• 1869, RD Blackmoore, Lorna Doone, II:these great masters of the art, who would far liefer see us little ones practice it, than themselves engage ....
2. I'd as lief have one as t'other.

Derived terms

• liefer/liever

Anagrams

• file
• life, Life