lief
advEtymology From Middle English lef, leve, leef, from Old English lēof, from Proto-West Germanic *leub, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz. Cognate with Saterland Frisian ljo, ljoo, ljoof, West Frisian leaf, Dutch lief, German Low German leev, German lieb, Swedish and Norwegian Nynorsk ljuv, Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍆𐍃 (liufs), Russian любо́вь (ljubóvʹ), Polish luby. For the adverb, compare German lieber, Dutch liever (“preferably, rather”).
1
Archaic Readily, willingly, rather.
- I'd as lief have one as t'other.
- 1. Gent. And thou the Veluet; thou art good veluet; thou'rt a three pild-peece I warrant thee: I had as liefe be a Lyst of an English Kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French Veluet. [...]c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
4 more examples
- As far as physiognomy goes, the winners protest that they would as lief have foregone the double points, and the money.1826, Thomas Byerly, John Timbs, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction:
- these great masters of the art, who would far liefer see us little ones practice it, than themselves engage [...].1869, RD Blackmoore, Lorna Doone, section II:
- Since sware the Parcæ unto me, their friend, / they shall adore my name, my favour prize; / and, as their feats of armèd prowess shend / all feats of rival Rome, I lief devise / some mode of aidance in what things I may, / far as our force o'er man extendeth sway.1880, Richard Francis Burton, Os Lusíadas, volume II, page 339:
- I'd as lief put on my hat and cane and help you if you think they'll be too heavy.1902, Josephine Spenser, Corner in Chrysanthemums:
- Derived terms
- liefer, liever