DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
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.