leof

Old English

Alternative forms

• leaf, liof

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰos (“dear, beloved”). Cognate with Old Frisian liāf, Old Saxon liof, Old High German liob, Old Norse ljúfr, Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍆𐍃 (liufs). Non-Germanic cognates include Polish luby (“dear, beloved”). Related to lufu (“love”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /le͜oːf/

Adjective

lēof

1. dear, beloved

   lēoffæst ― dear, precious

   lēofspell ― good news

   lēoftǣl ― kind, lovable, grateful, agreeable, pleasant

   lēofwendum ― ardently

Declension

Declension of lēof — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	lēof	lēof	lēof
Accusative	lēofne	lēofe	lēof
Genitive	lēofes	lēofre	lēofes
Dative	lēofum	lēofre	lēofum
Instrumental	lēofe	lēofre	lēofe
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	lēofe	lēofa, lēofe	lēof
Accusative	lēofe	lēofa, lēofe	lēof
Genitive	lēofra	lēofra	lēofra
Dative	lēofum	lēofum	lēofum
Instrumental	lēofum	lēofum	lēofum

Declension of lēof — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	lēofa	lēofe	lēofe
Accusative	lēofan	lēofan	lēofe
Genitive	lēofan	lēofan	lēofan
Dative	lēofan	lēofan	lēofan
Instrumental	lēofan	lēofan	lēofan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	lēofan	lēofan	lēofan
Accusative	lēofan	lēofan	lēofan
Genitive	lēofra, lēofena	lēofra, lēofena	lēofra, lēofena
Dative	lēofum	lēofum	lēofum
Instrumental	lēofum	lēofum	lēofum

Antonyms

• lāþ

Derived terms

• lēoflīċ
• *lēofmann
• lēofre
• lēofwende

Descendants

• Middle English: lef, leef
  • Scots: lief, lee
  • English: lief; livelong; liever