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6 definitions found

From: DICT.TW English-Chinese Dictionary 英漢字典

 lief /ˈlif, ˈliv/
 (ad.)欣喜,自願(a.)樂意的,親愛的

From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Lief n. Same as Lif.

From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Lief a. [Written also lieve.]
 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)

 Lief, n. A dear one; a sweetheart. [Obs.]

From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Lief, adv. 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.
 Note:The comparative liefer with had or would, and followed by the infinitive, either with or without the sign to, signifies prefer, choose as preferable, would or had rather. In the 16th century rather was substituted for liefer in such constructions in literary English, and has continued to be generally so used. See Had as lief, Had rather, etc. , under Had.
 

From: WordNet (r) 2.0

 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]