Lief (lēf), a. [Written also lieve.] [OE. leef, lef, leof, AS. leóf; akin to OS. liof, OFries. liaf, D. lief, G. lieb, OHG. liob, Icel. ljūfr, Sw. ljuf, Goth. liubs, and E. love. √124. See Love, and cf. Believe, Leave, n., Furlough, Libidinous.] 1. Dear; beloved. “My liefe mother.” Chaucer. “My liefest liege.” Shak.
As thou art lief and dear. Tennyson.
2. (Used with a form of the verb to be, and the dative of the personal pronoun.) Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable. 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.
I am not lief to gab. Chaucer.
He up arose, however lief or loth. Spenser.