lieb

See also: Lieb

Alemannic German

Etymology

From Middle High German liep, from Old High German liob, liub, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz. Cognate with German lieb, Dutch lief, English lief, Icelandic ljúfur.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /liəp/

Adjective

lieb (comparative lieber, superlative liebscht)

1. dear

Declension

Declension of lieb
		masculine	feminine	neuter	plural
Weak inflection	nominative/accusative	liebi	liebi	liebi	liebe
	dative	liebe	liebe	liebe	liebe
Strong inflection	nominative/accusative	liebe	liebi	liebs	liebi
	dative	liebe	liebe	liebe	liebe

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German

Etymology

From Middle High German liep, from Old High German liob, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ-. Compare Dutch lief, archaic English lief.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /liːp/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

lieb (comparative lieber, superlative am liebsten)

1. lovable; dear; darling; sweet; good-hearted; kind
2. (of a child or animal also) good; well-behaved

   Synonym: brav

3. (in or as an address) dear
   • 1784: Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller, Kabale und Liebe

     Ihr steht bestürzt, guten Leute, erwartet angstvoll, wie sich das Räthsel entwickeln wird?--Kommt näher, meine Lieben! – Ihr dientet mir redlich und warm […]

     You stand dismayed, good people, worry fearfully how the riddle will develop? – Come closer, my dears! – You served me fairly and warmly […]

Related terms

• Liebe
• lieben
• lieblich

 

Further reading

• “lieb” in Duden online