lief
[leef]
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adverb
gladly; willingly: I would as lief go south as not.
adjective Archaic.
willing; desirous.
dear; beloved; treasured.
Origin of lief
before 900; Middle English leef, Old English lēof; cognate with Dutch lief, German lieb, Old Norse ljufr, Gothic liufs; akin to love
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for lief
Contemporary Examples of lief
“They learn about what it is that drove them to these lengths,” says Lief.
Historical Examples of lief
So we said we'd as lief wait a spell, though a clean pinny wasn't needed.
Quaint CourtshipsVarious
For he would as lief be a victim of success, he assures us, as to forego his mojadderah.
The Book of KhalidAmeen Rihani
It's like ye'd as lief be in this snug room as on the fell to-neet, Ralph?
The Shadow of a CrimeHall Caine
How should the "faithful esquire" whose faith is mistrusted still be lief and dear?
HieroXenophon
But I'd as lief encounter a West India hurricane or a simoom.
lief
adverb
adjective
Word Origin for lief
Old English leof; related to lufu love
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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