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.


 Lieve a. Same as Lief.

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