Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [leef]
- /lif/
- /liːf/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [leef]
- /lif/
Definitions of lief word
- adverb lief gladly; willingly: I would as lief go south as not. 1
- adjective lief willing; desirous. 1
- adjective lief dear; beloved; treasured. 1
- noun lief As happily; as gladly. 1
- adverb lief willingly 1
- adverb lief gladly; willingly 0
Information block about the term
Origin of lief
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English leef, Old English lēof; cognate with Dutch lief, German lieb, Old Norse ljufr, Gothic liufs; akin to love
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Lief
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
lief popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 79% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
lief usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerTop questions with lief
- what does lief mean?
- what does lief mean in dutch?
- how to pronounce lief?