lief adj : (`lief' is archaic) very willing; "was lief to go"; "glad to help" [syn: glad, lief(p)] adv : in a willing manner; "this was gladly agreed to"; "I would fain do it" [syn: gladly, fain]

English

Etymology

Old English lēof, from Germanic *leubo-. Cognate with Dutch lief, German lieb, Swedish ljuv.

Adverb: Cf. German lieber, Dutch liever, preferably, rather

Pronunciation

• /li:f/

Adjective

1. beloved, dear, agreeable
2. willing

Adverb

1. Readily, willingly.
   • 2006, Patrick McCabe, Winterwood, Bloomsbury 2007, p. 17:

     —Cunt, he said. Cunt and hoor: I'd as lief have cut his throat.

   • He would as lief have chewed his own arm off as gone to the party.

Dutch

Pronunciation

• [li:f]

Adjective

lief (Alternate form: lieve, : liever, : liefst)

1. nice, sweet

Noun

lief (Plural: lieven, diminutive: liefje, diminutive plural: liefjes more used than lieven)

1. boyfriend or girlfriend in a romantic relationship

German

Pronunciation

• [liːf]

Verb

lief

1. Past of laufen ‘to walk’

Lief may refer to:

• Jacob Lief (21st century), American humanitarian
• Lief Larson (born 1975), entrepreneur, futurist and technologist
• The lief that you live

See also

• Leaf (disambiguation)
• Leif