GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Lief (lēf), 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.]
   1. 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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   2. (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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   3. 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 (lēv), a. Same as Lief.
   
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