2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lief \Lief\ (l[=e]f), a. [Written also {lieve}.] [OE. leef, lef,
leof, AS le['o]f; akin to OS liof, OFries liaf, D. lief,
G. lieb, OHG. liob, Icel. lj[=u]fr, Sw ljuf Goth. liubs
and E. love. [root]124. See {Love}, and cf {Believe},
{Leave}, n., {Furlough}, {Libidinous}.]
1. Dear; beloved. [Obs., except in poetry.] ``My liefe
mother.'' --Chaucer. ``My liefest liege.'' --Shak.
As thou art lief and dear. --Tennyson.
2.
Note: (Used with a form of the verb to be and the dative of
the personal pronoun.) Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable;
preferable. [Obs.] See {Lief}, adv., and Had as lief,
under {Had}.
Full lief me were this counsel for to hide.
--Chaucer.
Death me liefer were than such despite.
--Spenser.
3. Willing; disposed. [Obs.]
I am not lief to gab. --Chaucer.
He up arose, however lief or loth. --Spenser.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lieve \Lieve\ (l[=e]v), a.
Same as {Lief}.
more about lieve
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Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
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