Define:Lief

English

Etymology

From Old English

lēof

, from Template:Proto, whence Gothic

𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌱𐍃

. Cognate with Dutch

lief

, German

lieb

, Russian

любовь

, Swadish and Norwegian Nynorsk

ljuv

. Adverb: Compare German

lieber

, Dutch

Pronunciation

• /liːf/

Adjective

1. Template:Archaic beloved, dear, agreeable
2. Template:Archaic willing

Translations

beloved, dear, agreeable

• Russian: любимый (ljubimyj), дорогой (dorogoj)

willing

• Russian: охотный (oxotnyj)

Adverb

1. Template:Archaic 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 [...].

Translations

Readily, willingly

• Russian: охотно (oxotno)

Quotations

• Template:SeeCites

Anagrams

• file
• life, Life

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Dutch

Pronunciation

• [lif]

Adjective

Lief (comparative liever, superlative Liefst)

1. nice, sweet
2. beloved

Noun

Lief ? (plural liefje, diminutive [please provide])

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

See also

• liever

Anagrams

• file

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German

Pronunciation

• [liːf]

Verb

Lief

1. Past of laufen ‘to walk’

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Scots

Alternative forms

• (contracted) lee

Etymology

From Old English

lēof

, from Template:Proto.

Pronunciation

• [lif]

Adjective

Lief (comparative liefer, superlative liefest)

1. dear, beloved