lief

English

Etymology

From Old English lēof, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz, whence Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐍆𐌿𐍃 (liufs). Cognate with Dutch lief, German lieb, Russian любовь (ljubóv’), Swedish and Norwegian Nynorsk ljuv.

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

Pronunciation

• IPA: /liːf/, X-SAMPA: /li:f/
• Rhymes: -iːf

Adjective

lief (comparative liefer or liever, superlative liefest)

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

Derived terms

• liefsome

Translations

beloved, dear, agreeable

• Russian: любимый (ru) (ljubímyj), дорогой (ru) (dorogój)

• Swedish: kär (sv)

willing

• Russian: охотный (ru) (oxótnyj)

Adverb

lief (comparative liefer or liever, superlative liefest)

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 [...].

   I'd as lief have one as t'other.

Translations

Readily, willingly

• Russian: охотно (ru) (oxótno)

Quotations

• For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.

Anagrams

• file
• life, Life

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Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch *liof, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ-. Compare archaic English lief, German lieb.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -if
• IPA: [lif]

Adjective

lief (comparative liever, superlative liefst)

1. nice, sweet
2. beloved

Declension

Declension of lief

		positive	comparative	superlative
				attributive	predicative/adverbial
predicative/adverbial		lief	liever
neuter singular	indefinite	lief	liever
	definite	lieve	lievere	liefste	liefst, liefste
common singular		lieve	lievere	liefste	liefste
plural		lieve	lievere	liefste	liefste
partitive		liefs	lievers

Noun

lief n (plural lieven, diminutive liefje)

1. one's beloved in a romantic relationship, i.e. a boyfriend or girlfriend

Derived terms

• lieflijk

See also

• liever
• liefde

Anagrams

• file

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German

Pronunciation

• IPA: [liːf]

Verb

lief

1. Past of laufen ‘to walk’

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Jèrriais

Noun

lief m (plural liefs)

1. roof

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Scots

Alternative forms

• (contracted) lee

Etymology

From Old English lēof, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA: [lif]

Adjective

lief (comparative liefer, superlative liefest)

1. dear, beloved