Where does “lief” come from?
Lief comes from Old English lēof, from Proto-Germanic leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, a root of uncertain meaning.
lief (English): Beloved, dear, agreeable; Ready, willing;...
Definitions
- Beloved, dear, agreeable; Ready, willing;...
Ancestry of “lief”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lef | leaf |
| 2 | Old English | lēaf | permission, privilege; permission, leave; leaf,... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | laubō | permission |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | lewbʰ- | to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lēw- | to sound, resound, sing out; to leave |