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Entry 6 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913

Lief

/(lēf)/ · IPA /liːf/
01 n. Same as Lif.
  1. 1.
    Same as Lif. See: Lif
02 a. Dear; beloved.
  1. 1.
    Dear; beloved.[Obs., except in poetry.]
    “As thou art lief and dear.” — Tennyson.
  2. 2.
    Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable.[Obs.]
    “Full lief me were this counsel for to hide.” — Chaucer.
    “Death me liefer were than such despite.” — Spenser.
  3. 3.
    Willing; disposed.[Obs.]
    “I am not lief to gab.” — Chaucer.
    “He up arose, however lief or loth.” — Spenser.
03 n. A dear one; a sweetheart.
  1. 1.
    A dear one; a sweetheart.[Obs.]
04 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.
  1. 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.