Lief

Definition of Lief

Pronunciation: lēf

n.	1.	Same as Lif.
a.	1.	Dear; beloved. As thou art lief and dear. - Tennyson.
	2.	Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable. Full lief me were this counsel for to hide. - Chaucer. Death me liefer were than such despite. - Spenser.
	3.	Willing; disposed. I am not lief to gab. - Chaucer. He up arose, however lief or loth. - Spenser.
n.	1.	A dear one; a sweetheart.
adv.	1.	Gladly; willingly; freely; - now used only in the phrases, had as lief, and would as lief; as, I had, or would, as lief go as not. All women liefest would Be sovereign of man's love. - Gower. I had as lief the town crier spoke my lines. - Shak. Far liefer by his dear hand had I die. - Tennyson.

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