GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Lief , a. [Written also lieve.] [OE. leef, lef, leof, AS. leíf; akin to OS. liof, OFries. liaf, D. lief, G. lieb, OHG. liob, Icel. ljfr, Sw. ljuf, Goth. liubs, and E. love. √124. See Love, and cf. Believe, Leave, n., Furlough, Libidinous.]
   Dear; beloved. [Obs., except in poetry.] “My liefe mother.” Chaucer. “My liefest liege.” Shak.
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   As thou art lief and dear.
   Tennyson.
   
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   (Used with a form of the verb to be, and the dative of the personal pronoun.) Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable. [Obs.] See Lief, adv., and Had as lief, under Had.
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   Full lief me were this counsel for to hide.
   Chaucer.
   
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   Death me liefer were than such despite.
   Spenser.
   
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   Willing; disposed. [Obs.]
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   I am not lief to gab.
   Chaucer.
   
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   He up arose, however lief or loth.
   Spenser.
   
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2.       
   Lieve , a. Same as Lief.
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