lef

See also: lēf

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish לבֿ (leyv, “courage”), which is borrowed from Hebrew לב (lev, “heart”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɛf/

• audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: lef
• Rhymes: -ɛf

Noun

lef n or m (uncountable)

1. courage, bravery, daring
2. temerity, gall rashness, audacity

   het gore lef ― the utter gall

3. arrogance

Related terms

• lefdoekje
• lefgozer m

References

• M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch]

Anagrams

• elf, fel

Fiji Hindi

Etymology

Borrowed from English left.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leːf/

Adjective

lef

1. left (left hand side)

References

• Fiji Hindi Dictionary

Middle English

Alternative forms

• leve, lefe, leffe, life, live
• luf (Southern or West Midlands)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leːf/

Adjective

lef

1. beloved, dear
   • c. 1368, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Book of the Duchess, as recorded c. 1440–1450 in Bodleian Library MS. Fairfax 16, folio 130r:

     I have so many an ydel thoght / Purely for defaulte of slepe / That by my trouthe I take no kepe / Of noo thinge how hyt cometh or gooth / Ne me nys no thynge leve nor looth

     I have so many idle thoughts / Purely from lack of sleep / That I swear I take no heed / Of anything, whether it comes or goes, / And nothing is either dear to me or hated.

Adverb

lef

1. beloved, dear

Descendants

• English: lief; ⇒ livelong
• Scots: lief, lee
• ⇒ Yola: liveer

References

• “lẹ̄f, adj. & adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Romansch

Alternative forms

• levz, levza (Sursilvan)
• leavz, leavza (Sutsilvan)
• leiv (Puter)

Etymology

From Latin labium, from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang loosely”).

Noun

lef f (plural lefs)

1. (Rumantsch Grischun, Surmiran, Vallader, anatomy) lip

West Frisian

Adjective

lef

1. afraid, scared

Inflection

Inflection of lef
uninflected	lef
inflected	leffe
comparative	leffer
		positive	comparative	superlative
predicative/adverbial		lef	leffer	it lefst it lefste
indefinite	c. sing.	leffe	leffere	lefste
	n. sing.	lef	leffer	lefste
	plural	leffe	leffere	lefste
definite		leffe	leffere	lefste
partitive		lefs	leffers	—

Derived terms

• leffert

Further reading

• “lef (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011